Participatory budgeting introduced in 15 communities

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 6, ARMENPRESS. The German Embassy’s First Secretary Katrin Buder-Pelz has attached importance to participatory budgeting in terms of democratic development.

Speaking at a conference on participatory budgeting on the local governance level in Armenia, she said that participatory budgeting ensures transparency and accountability. Mentioning the participatory budgeting practice in German politics, Katrin Buder-Pelz said she’s proud that Germany, together with Switzerland, is supporting the program in Armenia. 

A pilot program of participatory budgeting was originally introduced in 4 communities. Now the number of communities has increased to 15.

Minister of Finance of Armenia Vahe Hovhannisyan also attended the event.

In his speech, he said that soon Armenia will have a system for evaluating the effectiveness of expenditures. 

Lukas Rosenkrantz, the Swiss Ambassador to Armenia, said in his remarks that Switzerland strongly supports the introduction of participatory budgeting in Armenia and elsewhere in the region because it embodies the principles of direct involvement of the people, which is needed for a prospering democracy.