This experience was presented to the 10th IOPD Award
Description
In the dynamics of popular aspirations expressed during the Tunisian revolution January 2011, and during the first free elections in October 2011, the will of the Tunisian people, mainly through its active civil society, has consistently claimed transparency and fairness social in their government. The World Social Forum, an international event held in Tunisia at the end of March 2013 (and whose motto was the word "dignity") confirmed that not only was the public participation requirement, but that is institutionally channeled outside.
In addition, if the experience of participatory budgeting at the national level is registered under the new guidelines on decentralization, it should be noted the local experience of the Municipality of La Marsa (Northern Greater Tunis suburb), benefiting from a real political will and pioneer of the locomotive of this dynamic by initiating of the practice since January 10, 2014, so before the completion of the drafting of the Tunisian Constitution and formalization of its regulatory framework.
Objectives
The establishment and development of what participatory at municipal level significantly improve the direct relationship between citizens and their local government, and therefore helps build a relationship of trust and legitimacy among the various stakeholders. Actions and the work carried out through the participatory budget directly respond to the priority needs expressed by citizens and improve so directed and orderly infrastructure and facilities in the municipality. In addition, participatory budgeting improves local governance by reforming the management of municipal finances and in fact establishes local democracy through citizen participation in budget decisions.
Description of the experience
The Municipality of La Marsa running an original and unique experience of local governance in Tunisia for more than two years ago. Through its municipal decree of January 9, 2014, La Marsa initiated the participatory budgeting mechanism (PP), focused on the issue of "public lighting". Thus, during the first edition held in the first half of 2014, the citizens of the five areas of La Marsa (the four districts + Bhar Lazrag), meeting in public and plenary sessions have decided on an amount of 550.000 DT for projects public lighting. And for the second edition which began on February 7, 2015, also with a public meeting in the municipality, while continuing with the theme of "public lighting", the city has offered its residents the option to decide on projects in the following areas: green areas - roads - Sidewalks and paving- sports Facilities - city Beautification - sewerage system.
The local process as a model and therefore drop nationwide, consists in:
- Organizing information days (Open Day), awareness and action among citizens.
- training in participatory to stakeholders (management personnel and actors of civil society skills)
- developing transparency and accountability (monitoring the work of projects identified in the participatory budget by delegates chosen by the citizens)
- Start young citizens through pilot projects in schools and colleges
- transversal work (establishment of a common agenda between the affected municipalities, signed an agreement of cooperation between local authorities)
- exchange and networking at local, national and international level (participation to the WSF 2015, and signature of the agreement Empathia)
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