Da Institucionalização à implementação: a experiência do orçamento participativo no município do Conde/PB

Abstract

This article analyzes the institutionalization and implementation process of the Participatory Budget in the municipality of Conde (PB). To this end, it takes as its backdrop the context of redemocratization and the promulgation of the 1988 Federal Constitution, which enabled new spaces for debate regarding the direction of public policies, giving citizens an active voice throughout the public policy cycle. As a democratic innovation at the national level, the Participatory Budget stands out among Participatory Institutions. Regarding methodological procedures, the research is qualitative in nature, a single case study, and in terms of objectives, it is exploratory and descriptive. Data collection involved bibliographic and documentary research, semi-structured interviews with institutional actors, and the technique of simple direct observation. The results indicate that the Participatory Budget is structured with laws, decrees, and internal regulations that provide legal security to participation. Furthermore, the institutional design seeks to adapt to the local reality, highlighting the role of facilitators in mobilization and the integration of development planning with other planning instruments. In addition, the instrument fosters debate between citizens and the administration, although its effectiveness depends on the continuous mobilization of civil society to overcome barriers to representation.