Description

This is an innovative tool in the strategy of the City Hall such is the way how it consolidates the link between the Municipality and its citizens. In 2015, the Department of Participatory Democracy was created and a Participatory Democracy and Citizenship Unit was established in the model of organization of the municipal services of the City Hall with competences to: develop policies to promote citizenship and to deepen participatory democracy; ensure and encourage citizen participation in municipal management; and to implement the municipal participation system. The Unit has a coordination team and has the collaboration of a technical analysis team and moderators at the participation meetings.

The resources mobilized for this practice are: posters, pamphlets, roll-ups, buses, videos, social networks, t-shirts, notepads, institutional page on the internet and on facebook, e-mail marketing. This project was invigorated with internal resources of the City Hall, but also with the support of our partners, 6 parishes and the entire community in general. Participatory Budgeting is an inspiring education process for all involved (politicians, technicals and all citizens), contributing to a better communication among all. The practice is recognized as a medium that allows the valuation of the knowledge of different actors and this valorization creates spaces for the learning dynamics of those involved.

Everybody can participate from the age of 15, regardless of whether they are foreigners or even non-residents. The participation has real effects in terms of social justice and relations between civil society and the political system. By participating everyone has space and voice. The participatory budget contributes to a better communication and proximity between citizens, administration and politicians, because it increases the transparency in the use of public money, and as a consequence, the trust enables a better knowledge of the territory, its problems and potentialities, as well as the local administration, its role and model of operation.

This practice makes it possible for citizens to participate actively in the debate on the investment priorities to be included in the municipal budget, allowing them to meet their needs for the city. Everyone is encouraged to attend. All voices are heard. The implementation of participatory budgeting gives the city executive a greater understanding of the needs of the population, thus enabling them to serve citizens better. It also allows people to feel a greater commitment to their community. The implementation of this practice in Funchal in 2014 had such a positive impact on the population that it has actively participated in all participatory practices that have emerged at national and local levels.

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