STRENGTHENING PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC EXPENDITURE MANAGEMENT

Abstract

Participation in public expenditure management — by poor people themselves, or by the civil society organizations and parliaments who represent them — is emerging as a major new arena for political activity and economic policy-making in developing countries at all levels of government. This brief analyses the challenges facing the three main stakeholders in participatory budgeting (PB) — governments, civil society and legislatures — in effectively engaging with participation2 . A series of policy recommendations is offered focusing on how these key domestic stakeholders can better contribute to successful participatory budgeting programmes.