Book Profiles Testing of Participatory Budgeting in Three Countries
ADB HAS released a book documenting experiences, successes, and challenges of pilot testing participatory budgeting at the local level in three countries - Indonesia, Marshall Islands, and Pakistan. The pilots, carried out under an ADB grant project, and documented in Fostering Public Participation in Budget-making, examined the challenges of involving the public in the budget process and highlighted the need for an active and articulate civil society. “The successful pilots in the three countries have demonstrated that civil society's engagement is not difficult to elicit provided local governments have the political will and technical resources,” says Raza Ahmad, an ADB Governance and Capacity Development Specialist and coeditor of the book. “Using simple, effective, and low-cost methods, local governments can promote transparency and openness in their decision making by following such an approach. Transparency is vital for good governance that in turn leads to economic growth and poverty reduction in the long term.” Publication of these case studies is intended to provide access to knowledge and good practice to hundreds of local governments in Indonesia and Pakistan for replication, and guidance to development practitioners and government officials in other countries. “Overall this publication will promote knowledge sharing and dissemination across the region,” Mr. Ahmad adds. “Other international development agencies could also use some of the lessons documented to mainstream participatory approaches and civil society partnerships in their projects and programs.” The book is co-edited by Erin Weiser, the technical assistance project leader. View the book. About ADB | 
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