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.
