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The planning
and budgeting process involve and reflect all stakeholders’ interests
and priorities and endeavours to develop socio-economically viable
plans. Stakeholders are accountable to the public and to each other for
their shared decisions and the tasks they have committed themselves to
accomplish
The
Participatory Budgeting Process is targeted at the Policy Makers, the
Executives, and all other stakeholders in development including
development partners and the citizens who are the beneficiaries and the
demographic focus being the disadvantaged such as the disabled, women
and children.
Participatory
Budgeting Tools and Methodologies:
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The
Planning Guidelines for Village and Mtaa levels which are
participatory ;
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The Medium
Term Expenditure Review which involves Local Governments and Central
Government levels;
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Opportunities and Obstacles to Development operation manuals in place.
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Public
meetings addressed by politicians and staff on the importance of
participatory planning and budgeting initiatives;
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NGOs and Civil Society Organizations
educate the people on the concept and its importance for their
development; The press also advocates for participatory planning and
budgeting;
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The National Association of Local
Authorities advocate for higher degree of participatory planning and
budgeting by the citizens;
Plans are
initiated and approved at the lower levels (Village/Mtaa) after which
they are forwarded to the Ward level for coordination and then sent to
the District/Town/Municipal/City level where they are consolidated and
forwarded to the Regional and ultimately to the National level where
they form the National Plans.
Inclusiveness:
Despite the
various efforts by different actors to sensitize the people on the
importance of participating in the planning and budgeting interventions,
the degree of participation is still limited by some factors. Some
other people still see it as work of the politicians and the executives
and that they get paid for that. Sometimes, even the elite do not
participate with an excuse of lack of time.
It has been
very difficult for the poor to participate. Those who attend have been
empowered as they precisely know what their priorities are and what
their strengths in implementing their plans are.
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