Methodological proposal for the implementation of participatory budgeting as an instrument for managing local development

Abstract

Social participation in the management of local development is vital for its success and sustainability. The involvement of all local actors in their own development is a maxim for the government and Cuban society today. In view of this challenge, the objective of this research is to design a methodological guide for the application of participatory budgeting as a tool for participation in the management of local development in Cuba, based on the "Por tu Barrio" experience of La Oficina del Historiador de la Ciudad de La Habana. For this purpose, the following methods were used: historical-logical and systemic-structural, from a mixed methodological perspective. Based on the systematization and evaluation of the exercise, a methodology composed of five fundamental stages was proposed: preparation, organization, development, evaluation and feedback, and the lessons learned were determined, highlighting that the participatory budget should be developed in articulation with the rest of the public management instruments, that the municipal government should set itself up as a leader and that the neighborhood identity, the socio-demographic characteristics and the culture of participation condition the model. The relationship of the tool with the Municipal Development Strategies was also analyzed, showing the singular elements in the Cuban context for its socialization and replication. This research, due to its scope and object, constitutes a scientific novelty and an important reference, not only for studies on the subject, but also for local governments that determine the implementation of participatory budgeting in Cuba.