In Burkina Faso, workshops held to boost citizen involvement in local commune management

The aim of the project is to get citizens involved in developing the budget for their commune, but also in monitoring and examining the results of budget implementation. Over one day, elected officials, civil society organisations and local media outlets from the communes of Bobo Dioulasso, Sabou, Réo, Tenkodogo and Kombissiri reflected on how to improve citizen involvement in commune budget management.

Participants' understanding and knowledge of the principles of the budget process and participatory budgeting were boosted. They learnt what role active citizens and civil society can play in the various steps of the budgeting cycle, particularly by means of simple and practical tools to facilitate involvement.

These awareness-raising sessions form part of the activities of the #PAGOF project (Project in Support of Open Governments in French-speaking Africa), which supports the technical implementation of the commitments made by each country as part of their National Action Plan.

Increasing transparency in commune management

More specifically, the aim of these activities is to support the fulfilment of commitment 13 of the 1st Burkina Faso National Action Plan:to organise Community Dialogue and Question Forums relating to commune budget management. The aim of these forums is to increase transparency in commune management, enabling community accountability. They are also intended to better inform citizens on the local budget and its implementation.

Thanks to these initiatives, the management, accountability and transparency of these communes will be improved, which will reinforce the relationship of trust between the communes and their citizens.