Prospects for implementing participatory budgeting in local communities discussed in Khmelnytskyi

Why should a united territorial community introduce participatory budgets? How to organize the selection and implementation of projects within the framework of a participatory budget in practice? What experience do communities in Khmelnytskyi region have with citizen participation in public finance management? These are the issues discussed in Khmelnytskyi during a round table on August 16 by the heads of united territorial communities of Khmelnytskyi region, representatives of the Khmelnytskyi City Council, the public, and lawyers.

“The public budget is one of the forms of direct democracy. The introduction of a participatory budget is a huge plus for both the government and the community. It allows residents to feel that they are taking a real part in the life of the community,” – said

Vitaliy Misyats

, executive director of the All-Ukrainian Coalition for Legal Aid.

The representative of the Dunayevets AH said that the public budget has greatly united the community. 2018 is the first year of the participatory budget in their community, 7 projects are being implemented. The participants exchanged practical experience in the introduction of a participatory budget in the community and the problematic issues that accompany this process.

The event was held within the framework of the project “Public Budget – a Dialogue Platform for Government and Community”, implemented by the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights in cooperation with the All-Ukrainian Coalition for Legal Aid with the support of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).