Participatory Budgeting in the city of Recife, Brazil - the world’s most participative public agency?

Learning points

Over the decade of implementing PB in Recife, it has become more than a policy – it is now a cultural process, embedded deep within the ways in which local people think and relate to the City Council.

On the other hand, the City Council has had to be careful in how it manages the process. In 2006 there was a change in approach, putting more emphasis on people in local forums, so that two projects would be proposed from each group of ten people and 10 projects would be chosen in each microregion for prioritization. This was more focused than the previous system, and made fewer demands on City Hall staff.

Citizens have also been learning as the process has evolved – solidarity has grown, as some groups have come together to support each other (“You vote for my school, I’ll vote for your roadworks”), as a proposal has a much higher chance of being chosen if two groups agree on it.

While expectations have risen over time, the involvement of local people in the prioritization process has ensured that they remain realistic about what can be achieved and what is less likely to be possible.

Politicians have changed their attitude to PB over time. In the beginning, many local politicians were against it – they saw it as taking away some of their power, since getting local projects into the city budget has always been central to local politics. However, most politicians have gradually come to realize that they have to go along with something which is now very popular. Consequently, even if they are not enthusiastic, they now tolerate it.
In any case, things have changed - people no longer accept the idea that local politicians are the only way for their ideas to be represented, they now expect to play a role themselves. Of course, many local politicians complain that they were elected, unlike membes of the public. However, some politicians have already changed with the times, mobilising support in their micro-region to vote for the things which they as politicians want – the mayor suggests that only the clever politicians have been doing this so far, and they know very well, since he used to organise the PB system himself, that he can see clearly what they are up to! Other interviewees suggest that perhaps a majority of politicians, from all political parties, now recognize the need to get involved in PB.
For the future, ways are being considered to ensure that local people understand better what is happening and what is possible under PB – and to help people enjoy the meetings and have more fun in the process than currently.

Finally, there is a desire to make more use in the process of the people who have been involved in the past, so that staff costs can be reduced and the process can be made more efficient.