Financing of participatory budgeting programs to be doubled in  Armenia in 2026

ArmInfo.  The Armenian government intends to double the budget of the Community  Participatory Budgeting Program, which has already been doubled this  year, in 2026. This was announced by the RA Minister of Finance Vahe  Hovhannisyan in an interview with Public Television.

The Minister noted that the program was introduced in 2024 and  launched in test mode in four communities - Ashtarak, Armavir,  Abovyan and Jermuk (including adjacent towns and villages). At that  time, programs worth 500 million drams were approved. This year, the  program covered 21 communities. As of today, the budget has already  been doubled.  Next year, it is planned that about 2 billion drams  will be allocated for the implementation of the program in more than  40 communities of the country.

In general, Hovhannisyan pointed out, these programs concern the  construction of playgrounds, recreation parks, football stadiums,  that is, programs aimed at .

For example, the minister noted, he recently visited the Armavir  community of the Armavir region. There, within the framework of the  pilot program of participatory budgeting, a park with modern  solutions was built, which will include a green area, fountains and a  skate park, which will include a green area, fountains and a skate  park.

Participatory budgeting (also participatory budgeting or  participatory budgeting) is a type of direct democracy that allows  residents of a municipal territory to directly participate in the  distribution of part of the local government budget. The introduction  of participatory budgeting processes makes it possible to expand the  direct participation of the community in budgeting processes, thereby  increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the distribution of  public resources. Community residents will now have the opportunity  to propose ideas and programs related to their community. These  proposals will be reviewed, discussed, selected by community vote and  provided with opportunities for implementation.

Within the framework of the program, the share of funding from the  community budget (fund part) for the implementation of each subsidy  program formed through participatory budgeting must be at least 20%  of the total costs of the given program.

The government decree of November 2, 2023 also established that  information on the progress of the implementation of programs formed  through participatory budgeting and the targeted use of the provided  subsidies shall be published monthly by the head of the community on  the official website of the community. In order to raise awareness  and public control over participatory budgeting, the opportunity to  participate is envisaged for representatives of public organizations  registered in the Republic of Armenia, persons carrying out media  activities, or their representatives.