2017年-世界发展银行全球_Inclusive_and_Effective_Citizen_Engagement___Participatory_Budgeting--Makueni_and_West_Pokot_Counties_60页_1mb

Summary of Participatory Budgeting in Makueni and West Pokot Counties

Core Content

Participatory Budgeting (PB) is a process that involves local citizens in decision-making about public spending and budget priorities. This report outlines the implementation of PB in Makueni and West Pokot Counties in Kenya, highlighting its role in enhancing citizen engagement, transparency, and accountability in the context of the devolution framework. The initiative is supported by the Kenya Participatory Budgeting Initiative (KPBI), which is part of the World Bank's Kenya Accountable Devolution Program.

Main Objectives

The main objectives of the Kenya Participatory Budgeting Initiative are:

• To demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of PB in the Kenyan context.
• To provide an effective method for counties to respond to constitutional requirements on public participation.
• To reinforce the county governance system through transparency, participation, and accountability.
• To give traditionally excluded groups, such as women and youth, a meaningful opportunity to engage in budgeting processes.
• To increase county responsiveness to citizens' needs.

Key Elements of the PB Process

The PB process follows a 10-step framework, which includes:

1. General Strategy: Aligning with the legal framework and emphasizing inclusiveness, equity, and responsiveness.
2. Organizational Model: Establishing a model that includes civic education and public participation officers, and using a participatory approach at all levels of governance.
3. Mobilization: Utilizing a variety of channels to engage citizens, including public advertisements, local radio, community gatherings, and digital platforms.
4. Public Forums: Conducting forums at the village, sub-ward, ward, sub-county, and county levels to identify and prioritize community needs.
5. Project Selection: Citizens identify and propose projects, which are then evaluated technically to ensure feasibility and relevance.
6. Priority Lists: Projects are prioritized at each level, culminating in a final list validated at the county level.
7. Technical Evaluation: Ensuring that projects are evaluated based on technical criteria to align with actual needs and capacities.
8. Budget Allocation: Allocating a specific percentage of the development budget to participatory projects.
9. Approval by County Assembly: The County Assembly reviews and approves the budget, with a limit of 10% amendments.
10. Monitoring and Oversight: Establishing Project Management Committees (PMCs) to ensure project implementation and accountability.

Key Outcomes

Inclusiveness

• PB has significantly increased the participation of women and remote communities in budgeting processes.
• In Makueni County, over 350,000 participants attended 3,867 meetings, with a final county forum involving 1,000 individuals.
• In West Pokot, women's participation increased from 11% to 35% due to new engagement methods and proximity to their homes.

Credibility

• PB introduces clear rules for identifying, selecting, prioritizing, and validating projects.
• It ties selected projects to a specific portion of the capital budget (approximately 30%), which helps in managing expectations and enhancing the credibility of the process.

Compliance

• PB helps counties comply with legal requirements for public participation under the County Government Act and the Public Financial Management Act.
• It reduces transaction costs by providing a structured, streamlined, and coherent process for public engagement.

Implementation in Makueni and West Pokot

Makueni County

• County Profile: Located in eastern Kenya, with an area of 8,034.7 km² and a population of 922,183.
• Economy: Based on subsistence agriculture, small trade, and eco-tourism.
• PB Allocation: In FY 2016/17, 32% of the development budget was allocated to PB, totaling Kshs. 823 million.
• Participation Model: A hyperlocal approach, starting from villages and moving upwards. Villagers were asked to identify needs and elect representatives to take the agenda to the next level.
• Civic Education: A comprehensive training program was implemented, involving 900 interlocutors who conduct civic education across the county.

West Pokot County

• County Profile: Located in a remote, rural area with a population of 250,000.
• PB Allocation: 5% of the total development fund was allocated to PB, focusing on ward-level projects.
• Participation Model: A more radical approach was taken due to geographic challenges, emphasizing community needs and basic services.
• Increased Inclusiveness: Women's participation in budget consultations rose from 11% to 35% through the introduction of PB.

Emerging Results and Lessons

• PB has improved the alignment of county budgets with citizen priorities.
• It has shifted the focus from new facility construction to upgrading and renovating existing ones, especially benefiting marginalized groups.
• The process has enhanced the credibility of the budgeting system and improved communication between government and citizens.
• Challenges remain, particularly in ensuring further inclusiveness and strengthening citizens' capacity to monitor budget execution.

Conclusion

The implementation of PB in Makueni and West Pokot Counties has shown promising results in terms of inclusiveness, credibility, and compliance with legal frameworks. It has provided a structured and effective way for citizens to engage in the budgeting process, aligning it with constitutional requirements and enhancing local governance. The initiative continues to evolve, with lessons learned informing future adjustments and improvements.