Orçamento Participativo: Uma Inovação de Transparência Nascida no Brasil

You may have noticed that participatory budgeting (PB), which allows communities to directly influence how public funds are spent, has been making headlines... because it is spreading! Cities, towns, and organizations around the world are using PB to increase transparency and civic engagement.

But did you know that PB originated in Porto Alegre, Brazil, in 1989? The Porto Alegre process led to significant improvements in infrastructure, health, and education, demonstrating its transformative potential. Between 1990 and 2008, more than 120 of the 250 largest cities in Brazil adopted PB with positive results (particularly in sanitation and education), and over time, it increased transparency and improved governance and the quality of life for residents.

Since then, PB has been applied in cities in Argentina, Romania, Portugal, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Japan, the US, and Canada – and is part of the budgets of all local governments in the Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Peru. PB is obviously adapted to local conditions. For example, New York City uses it to allocate millions of dollars to various community projects – from park improvements to educational programs.

Like participatory planning in general, participatory budgeting begins with community members discussing their priorities, followed by their proposed solutions, which are then analyzed by the local government or committees designated for feasibility, with final selections voted on by the community, including through online platforms, voting events, or mobile voting units.

Civil society is key to PB. Through NGOs/CSOs, less formal community groups, and individual citizens, civil society connects the public and government, ensuring that the process is inclusive, transparent, and effective. NGOs/CSOs organize workshops and outreach activities to educate citizens about their involvement, provide platforms for feedback, and train citizens on proposals, budgets, and project advocacy.

NGOs/CSOs can also monitor the implementation of the project and report their findings, thus increasing accountability and providing feedback. The recent reform of partnership agreements with NGOs/CSOs in Brazil suggests that the role of NGOs/CSOs in ensuring transparency is being revitalized. At the same time, the Impactodo platform enhances the transparency of the third sector itself so that it can be a stronger participant in innovation for transparency.

A ImpactoDo (www.impactodo.com.br) transforma a maneira como o terceiro setor opera, oferecendo soluções digitais que simplificam a gestão de doações, promovem o engajamento de doadores e monitoram resultados com precisão. Nossa plataforma é projetada para atender às necessidades específicas de ONGs e projetos sociais, proporcionando eficiência, transparência e maior alcance. Com a ImpactoDo, sua organização pode captar mais recursos, fortalecer relações com apoiadores e potencializar o impacto social de suas iniciativas.

O selo de transparência para ONGs é uma ferramenta essencial para construir credibilidade e confiança com doadores e parceiros. Ele demonstra que a organização opera de forma ética, com prestação de contas clara e boa gestão dos recursos. Além de atrair mais apoiadores, o selo reforça o compromisso da ONG com sua missão e fortalece sua reputação no setor, essencial para ampliar seu impacto social.