“Implementing Participatory Budgeting in General Escobedo through UN-Habitat's Participatory Budgeting Initiative has been proven to be a very powerful governance tool to find innovative solutions to the current needs of the city. It has created a channel of communication between the municipal government, citizens and organizations that is presenting us to new technologies and ideas that can make our city more sustainable and in accordance to UN’s 2030 Agenda.”
Clara Luz, City Manager, General Escobedo, México
72 Frequently Asked Questions about Participatory Budgeting
The present Manual of Frequently Asked Questions intends to respond in a direct and practical way to the general question of how best to implement a Participatory Budget.
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Participatory Budgeting in Africa - A Training Companion for Anglophone Countries - Part I Concepts and Principles
Introduction of participatory budgeting can be a sound vehicle in realizing good governance and fighting poverty.
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Participatory Budgeting in Africa – A Training Companion for Anglophone Countries - Part II Facilitation Methods
Introduction of participatory budgeting can be a sound vehicle in realizing good governance and fighting poverty. It is a mechanism that involves elected leaders, public officials, service providers, and non-state actors – civil society, private sector and development part
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Leaving no one and no place behind
Hover over or click the icons to learn about UN-Habitat's work on social inclusion here.
Deeply rooted in UN values and following UN-Habitat’s mandate to achieve the SDGs and to implement the NUA, the Participatory-Habitat Initiative ensures that projects and programmes proposed and implemented in partner cities are in accordance to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and contributes to equal rights and opportunities, as well as greater accessibility for all.
Promoting equal representation in decision-making and allowing women to become agents of change by giving direct input and decision power through the whole Initiative process, Participatory-Habitat raises awareness and empowers women to shape the cities they live in.
The youth is called into action in the Participatory-Habitat Initiative; they are able to engage, create proposals, debate, share, and vote for the best ideas. Specific workshops for the youth are held in schools, improving the potential of innovative solutions to be foster by this age group as well. The initiative promotes the civic commitment of the youth. Even under the official voting age, young people where the initiative is operating can participate in the process. This initiative thus also works as a citizenship school to prepare them as responsible and participatory citizens for now and the future.
Sustainable urban development can only be achieved if persons with disabilities are included meaningfully in decision-making and are able to access their rights. UN-Habitat partners with representative groups and individual rights holders, as well as national and local governments, relevant UN bodies and civil society to maximize impact and to meaningfully ensure that the rights including accessibility and universal design of persons with disabilities are promoted, respected and protected.
Donors and partners
In November 2019, the Municipality of General Escobedo in Mexico signed a two-year cooperation agreement with the UN-Habitat to launch the Initiative for two consecutive cycles: 2019-2020 and 2020-2021. In the first year, citizens will have the chance to propose and vote for ideas that tackle environment and climate change, urban mobility, and public security issues in the municipality, backed with a 25 million Mexican Pesos Budget.
