Participatory Budgeting in Africa: A Training Companion with cases from eastern and southern Africa - Volume I: concepts and principles

Participatory budgeting in Africa is part of an effort to build the capacity of local government officials and their partners for greater accountability and good governance. This companion is aimed at helping local governments and other stakeholders to prepare for, design, initiate and manage a participatory budgeting process, by training key actors who initiate the budgeting processes.

It is split into two volumes providing users with information, tools, methodologies, case studies and tips on how participatory budgeting can be introduced and sustained. These resources have been collected from local governments where participatory budgeting is already being practised. Volume one addresses the concepts and principles associated with participatory budgeting, covering the following topics:

• an introduction to participatory budgeting
• understanding the conceptual distinction between the budget and the budgeting effort
• participatory budgeting process cycle
• dimensions of participatory budgeting
• conditions for participatory budgeting.

The companion aims to encourage self-learning by local government staff, NGO leaders, community practitioners, and others who need to know more about participatory budgeting. It is designed to provide trainers, consultants, researchers, and others with in-depth information and ideas about specific roles, responsibilities and processes involved in undertaking participatory budgeting. Tools such as worksheets and reflective questions are provided to maximise learning and enable adaptation to specific contexts.