Home / PBbase

PBbase

Looking for info on participatory budgeting “PB”?  PBbase is here to help!

Please find PB lectures and recordings of PBbase presentations on our PBbase YouTube Channel. 

What it is? Why should it be run? Who is it for? How to set one up or develop an existing process? Who else is doing it already?

These are some of the questions many people working in municipalities, government, NGOs’ or other organizations in democracy and area development are tackling today. The PBbase –network is a good place to start!

Many municipalities and other stakeholders are currently planning or implementing participatory budgeting (PB) in the Baltic Sea Region. As PB is a joint effort, it is important to learn from others. Therefore we, the EmPaci – Empowering Participatory Budgeting in the Baltic Sea Region -project, are setting up a network: PBbase. The aim of this network is to share information and experiences regarding the implementation of participatory budgeting in different local settings.

PBbase will work as a networking tool in bringing PB experts, municipalities and other interested parties together. The aim is to build a way to communicate easily and work as a data base that offers easy and accessible information regarding planning, implementing and evaluating PB. Learning from others is a valuable experience and PBbase will happily provide people interested in PB an opportunity to share information and experiences.

You can download an invitation letter to the PBbase-network from here.

For more information contact:

Lotta-Maria Sinervo
Tampere University
lotta-maria.sinervo@tuni.fi

Meri Pulkkinen
Tampere University
meri.pulkkinen@tuni.fi

 

Memorandum & Board of Experts


Memorandum: PBbase network – EmPaci

The PBbase-network is set up by the EmPaci – Empowering Participatory Budgeting in the Baltic Sea Region - project.

Scope of work:
As more and more municipalities, NGOs and other organizations in a democracy are getting to know participatory budgeting all over the world, there is a need for experience and knowledge sharing to provide answers to questions of what is participatory budgeting (PB)? How is it implemented? Who is it for? What are the best practices and challenges for its implementation and sustainability? An excellent place to start tackling these fundamental questions is the international PBbase-network.
The PBbase-network is open to all interested parties, and its aim is to share information and experiences regarding the implementation of PB in different local and regional settings. PBbase works as a networking tool in bringing PB experts, municipalities and other interested parties together.
The aim is to communicate easily and work as a database that offers easy and accessible information regarding planning, implementing and evaluating PB. The PBbase-network holds regularly online meetings, workshops and events.
The PBbase-network is home-based on the website of the EmPaci project (https://empaci.eu/index.php?id=124) and it utilizes YouTube and LinkedIn in sharing, supporting and training PB processes.
The PBbase YouTube-channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt2ZkHe2stxHppX0DI0ViwQ
A PBbase LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12564409/

Modes of operations:
The PBbase-network solidified its existence by appointing a board of experts. The board holds the responsibility of securing existence of the PBbase-network in the long run. The board is open to anyone interested. There are no specific requirements for members, only interest, experiences and insights into PB and its development. Board members may be members of academia or practitioners.
The board members will be selected to serve on a two-year term. Board members can serve the board maximum of three terms. The board elects a chair from among its members. The term of office of the chair is one year. The sitting board of experts is responsible for recruiting and selecting members of the next board. Gender equality is taken into account when recruiting and appointing board members. The size of the board of experts is 8-16 members. Members of the first board of experts are appointed by the EmPaci project.

Responsibilities of the board of experts:
The board of experts will hold at least two board meetings every year. Main task of the board is to promote, disseminate and support experiences and knowledge on PB. The board will organize PBbase-events, facilitate the operations of PBbase and act as messengers on behalf of PBbase. Every board member will coordinate and host one PBbase event during her/his membership term.

Parties associated:
EmPaci project has appointed the first board of experts for the year 2022 on 15 December 2021 . Board members in alphabetical order are:

  • Jaroslav Dvorak, Klaipėda University, Lithuania
  • Ellen Haustein, University of Rostock, Germany
  • Annukka Heinonen, LAB University of Applied Sciences, Finland
  • Magda Leszczyna-Rzucidło, Baltic Institute for Regional and European Concern BISER, Poland
  • Peter Lorson, University of Rostock, Germany
  • Renāte Lukjanska, Social Innovation Centre, Latvia
  • Lienīte Priedāja-Klepere, Vidzeme Planning region, Latvia
  • Jan Sienkiewicz, Regional Development Agency in Bielsko-Biała, Poland
  • Lotta-Maria Sinervo, Tampere University, Finland
  • Dmitrii Trutnev, ITMO University, Russia

The board of experts held its first organizing meeting on 15 December 2021 and elected Peter Lorson as chair for the first year of the board of experts. The board of experts discussed the objectives of the PBbase-network and future events.
PBbase-network is a product of the EmPaci – Empowering Participatory Budgeting in the Baltic Sea Region -project. This EU Interreg BSR -funded project aims to develop and implement participatory budgeting in nine municipalities in six European countries (Finland, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and Russia).

Board of Experts 2022:

Jaroslav Dvorak, Klaipėda University, Lithuania

Jaroslav Dvorak is a professor in the field of public administration and political sciences at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Klaipeda University, Lithuania. He is also visiting associate professor at School of Public Management, Governance and Public Policy, University of Johannesburg, South Africa. His primary research interests are in evidence-based decision making, corruption and its prevention, participatory governance. In participatory budgeting, Dvorak is particularly interested in mayors’ impact in the initiation, development and promotion of PB. Jaroslav Dvorak is interested in the PB application in authoritarian state.

Ellen Haustein, University of Rostock, Germany

Ellen Haustein is a post-doctoral researcher and lecturer at the Chair of Financial Accounting, Auditing and Management Control at University of Rostock, Germany. From Jan 2019 – Dec 2021, she was coordinator and contributor to the EU-funded project ‘Empowering Participatory Budgeting in the Baltic Sea Region’ (EmPaci). Besides teaching accounting and management control, her research focus is on public sector accounting, more specifically on users of accounting, citizen-centred reporting and non-financial reporting. In this context, she also coordinated the EU-funded project ‘Developing and implementing European Public Sector Accounting modules’ (DiEPSAm). She obtained her doctoral degree in management accounting at University of the West of England in Bristol.

Annukka Heinonen, LAB University of Applied Scieces, Finland

 

Annukka Heinonen, RDI-specialist in LAB University of Applied Sciences, Finland, works in area development to support companies, organizations and citizens in building a more sustainable society. Her particular interests in participatory budgeting are in co-creation and training as well as communications.

Magda Leszczyna-Rzucidło, Baltic Institute for Regional and European Concern BISER, Poland

PhD Magda Leszczyna-Rzucidło is an experienced project manager and researcher working for 10+ years at the University of Gdansk and Gdansk University Technology. She has been the president of the Baltic Institute for Regional Affairs BISER for six years now. BISER is an NGO from Poland enhancing the Baltic Sea international cooperation and preparing international projects. She also works as the Head of International permanent Secretariat at Euroregion Baltic. She has worked as a researcher in multiple international EU-founded projects and is also an author of various publications related to the Baltic Sea Region cooperation and EUSBSR. In addition to this, she operates as a European Commission expert.

Peter Lorson, University of Rostock, Germany

Peter C. Lorson holds the chair on Accounting, Management Control and Auditing at the University of Rostock, Germany, where he is also Executive Director of the Center for Accounting and Auditing. His primary research interests are convergence of accounting and reporting systems as well as new reporting formats, e.g. Integrated (financial and sustainability) Reporting, from both national and international perspectives as well as public and private perspectives.

Renāte Lukjanska, Social Innovation Centre, Latvia

Dr. Renāte Lukjanska is a chair and a founder of the Social Innovation Centre in Latvia. The non-governmental organization is dedicated to support and develop social entrepreneurship, social innovation and civic engagement initiatives. Recently the Social Innovation Centre is focused on supporting and promoting the PB concept in BSR and particularly in Latvia. Renate overall has expertise in innovation with almost 20 years of experience in non-governmental and business sectors. She gained knowledge about innovation in international companies, as well as during studies at Riga Technical University at the “Entrepreneurship and Innovation” program and defended her doctoral dissertation about innovation capacity.

Lienīte Priedāja-Klepere, Vidzeme Planning region, Latvia

MSc Spatial Planning and Development, Professional Master’s degree in Business Administration. Working closely with Vidzeme region’s entrepreneurs, especially in the tourism sector to help build their capacity and competitiveness. Implementing actions to support skills development, social inclusion, critical thinking and new participatory and intercultural approaches to heritage, as well as educational initiatives aimed at fostering the intercultural dialogue. Creating an innovative training path in the field of promotion of territories. Empowering civic engagement through participatory budgeting. Experience with Erasmus+, Interreg Europe, Interreg Central Baltic, Interreg Estonia-Latvia, Interreg Baltic Sea Region and COSME program.

Jan Sienkiewicz, Regional Development Agency in Bielsko-Biała, Poland

Jan Sienkiewicz is the Registered Attorney of the Regional Development Agency in Bielsko-Biala, Poland, where he is the head of Department of International Affairs. He is a fellow of the Cochran Fellowship Program funded by US Dep. Of Agriculture, with specialization in entrepreneurship and small business development. Jan is a graduate of Business Management in Marketing from the post-graduate programme in Poland by University of New Brunswick, Canada. His main area of interest is regional development, and he has taken part in many European Programmes as well as acting as project manager (e.g. Interreg programmes, Horizon 2020, International Urbact Cooperation, Europe Aid etc.).

Lotta-Maria Sinervo, Tampere University, Finland

Lotta-Maria Sinervo is a senior lecturer in the field of public financial management at the Faculty of Management and Business, Tampere University, Finland, where she received her doctoral degree in public administration. Her primary research interests are in sustainable financial management of different tiers of public administration. In participatory budgeting, Sinervo is particularly interested in the evolving role of public administration and new interpretations of the municipal economy from the perspective of the citizens.

Dmitrii Trutnev, ITMO University, Russia

Dmitrii Trutnev is a Deputy Director of e-Governance Center of St.Petersburg National Research University of Information Technology Mechanics and Optics (ITMO University, Russia) since 2009.
In addition to a wealth of practical experience gained in the management of more than 30 international (TACIS, EuropeAid, FP7, USAid etc.) and regional projects in the sphere of e-Governance Development he is the holder of such certificates as PMP, PRINCE2® Agile Practitioner, CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor).


Future Events

Upcoming events will be posted here soon.

 


Past Events

PBbase event: "PB Online Tools", 5th May 2022, 1-2:30 pm CEST

In the open meeting on 5th May 2022, we presented different online tools to implement PB. First, the IT team of the former EmPaci project shared a summary of the IT-related project results which tackle the following question: What are best practices regarding IT PB tools? Here specific results such as the feasibility matrix, validated reference architecture and method for PB tool selection and set of tool patterns and success factors are presented.

This was followed by a case example: A representative of Vidzeme Planning Region in Latvia presented their approach to a three-step PB process and how the proposal form and voting were realised within an online environment. Particularly interesting is the fact, that even a kind of feasibility check was installed in the online proposal form. 

Timetable for the event:

1 pm  Welcome and introduction to the PB base network and to the topic “PB Online Tools”, Prof. Dr. Michael Fellmann (University of Rostock/Germany)

1:10 pm Best practices regarding IT PB tools: Funtionality, usability and implementation, Achim Reiz (University of Rostock/Germany)

1:50 pm  Q&A

2 pm  Expericences of Vidzeme Planning Region/Latvia: Developing an online proposal form with integrated feasibility check and PB voting platform for cultural initiatives (Lienīte Priedāja-Klepere, VPR/Latvia)

2:20 pm  Q&A

2:30 pm Summary & Goodbye, Prof. Dr. Michael Fellmann (University of Rostock/Germany

==========================================

PBbase event:Citizens and budgeting – beyond participatory budgeting?” ,24th of March 2022 at 14-16.00 Finnish time (UTC+2)

The event was hosted by the PBbase-network's Finnish member Dr. Lotta-Maria Sinervo from Tampere University online on Zoom.

Agenda:

14:00 Opening words, Lotta-Maria Sinervo (Tampere University)

14:05 Citizen Engagement in the Public Budgeting Process in the U.S.: New Mechanisms, Evolving Normative Perspectives, and Research Challenges, Carol Ebdon (University of Nebraska at Omaha)

14:35 Something to Learn from Almost 30 Years of PB in Italy, Luca Bartocci (University of Perugia)

15:05 Opening Up the Budgeting Process with PB - Lessons from Lahti, Finland, Meri Pulkkinen (Tampere University)

16:00 End of event

Many municipalities and other stakeholders are currently planning or implementing participatory budgeting (PB). As PB is a joint effort, it is important to learn from others. Therefore the EmPaci - Empowering Participatory Budgeting in the Baltic Sea Region -project set up a PB-network called PBbase. The aim of this network is to share information and experiences regarding the implementation of participatory budgeting in different local settings.

==========================================

PBbase event: Evaluation of PB processes, 25 January 2022, 2:30-4 pm CET

Agenda:
14:30 pm Welcome and introduction of the topic of evaluation (Peter Lorson)
14:40 pm Evaluation of the PB process in Bielsko-Biala (Jan Sienkiewicz)
15:05 pm “PB Evaluation Scheme” to set up an evaluation (Hans-Henning Schult)
15:30 pm Open discussion

Organized by: University of Rostock
Moderation: Peter Lorson (EmPaci lead partner and Chair of PBbase Board of Experts, University of Rostock)

Register now and feel free to spread the event! https://uni-rostock-de.zoom.us/meeting/register/u5Ivde6tqTgvEt1KhtyOVUuJbodwoefgP1PE

If you need more information about this event or have any technical questions regarding this registration, please feel free to contact:

Hans-Henning Schult from University of Rostock

 

==========================================

EmPaci-project presents: Participatory budgeting in Russia: trends and challenges 09.12.2021

Welcome to the sixth participatory budgeting networking afternoon hosted by the EmPaci - Empowering Participatory Budgeting in the Baltic Sea Region -project on the 9th of December 2021 at 15:00-16.30 Moscow time (UTC+3).  PBbase network is inviting you to join us in an event to discuss Russian participatory budgeting experiences.

The PBbase -event will be hosted by EmPaci-project partner leader Dmitrii Trutnev from ITMO University online on Zoom. A participation link will be sent to all registered participants closer to the date.

The EmPaci-partners would like to warmly invite you to register to this PBbase-event by filling this Google Forms -registration form no latest than the 08 of December:

Link to a registration form: https://forms.gle/2FXHpKc2W88puUgV6

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86110320758

The agenda for the event on 9th of December 2021 at 15:00-16.30 Moscow time (UTC+3) is as follows:
15.00 Opening words, Dmitrii Trutnev (ITMO University, St.Petersburg, Russia)
15.05 Citizens’ participation within a ‘strong state’ regime: challenges and opportunities, Igor Khodachek (The Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, Russia)
15.35 Experience of municipal district Moskoavskaya Zastava in Participatory Budgeting, Lyudmila Vidiasova (ITMO Univesity – PB Implementation curator, Russia)
15.50 Urbanpinion (Otmetky) participative budgeting experience in Suoyarvi. Instruments, results, insights
15.05 Time for discussion
      The event ends by 15.30

Many municipalities and other stakeholders are currently planning or implementing participatory budgeting (PB) in the Baltic Sea Region. As PB is a joint effort, it is important to learn from others. Therefore we, the EmPaci – Empowering Participatory Budgeting in the Baltic Sea Region -project are setting up a network: PBbase. The aim of this network is to share information and experiences regarding the implementation of participatory budgeting in different local settings.

EmPaci is an EU Interreg BSR funded project called “Empowering Participatory Budgeting in the Baltic Sea Region”. In this Baltic Sea regional project, we will develop and implement participatory budgeting in 9 municipalities in 6 countries (Finland, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and Russia).

More information about EmPaci project can be found at http://www.empaci.eu/

If you have any questions regarding the meeting on the 9th of December, please feel free to contact Dmitrii Trutnev from ITMO University, trutnev@egov-center.ru

 

==========================================

EmPaci-project presents: PBbase – Participatory budgeting networking afternoon 26.11.2021 

Welcome to the fifth participatory budgeting networking afternoon hosted by the EmPaci - Empowering Participatory Budgeting in the Baltic Sea Region -project on the 26th of November 2021 at 14.00-15.30 Finnish time (UTC+2).  The PBbase-network is inviting you to join us in the event to discuss “Evolving nature of PB – towards sustainable practices”

The PBbase -event is hosted by EmPaci-project partner leader Dr. Lotta-Maria Sinervo from Tampere University online on Zoom. A participation link will be sent to all registered participants closer to the date.

Please register for the event via this link by the 25th of November:
https://forms.gle/EsYVm2M7d9Rjs5aT8

The agenda for the PBbase event “Evolving nature of PB – towards sustainable practices” by EmPaci
14.00 Opening words, Lotta-Maria Sinervo (Tampere University, Finland)
14.05 Evolving nature of PB, Kaisa Kurkela (Tampere University, Finland)
14.30 Developing PB with citizens, David Reilly (The Poverty Alliance, Scotland)
14.50 Approaching OmaStadi PB as an opportunity to learn, Kirsi Verkka (City of Helsinki, Finland)
15.00 Short overview on global PB practices by EmPaci, Ellen Haustein (Rostock University, Germany)
15.15 Time for discussion
    The event ends by 15.30

Many municipalities and other stakeholders are currently planning or implementing participatory budgeting (PB) in the Baltic Sea Region. As PB is a joint effort, it is important to learn from others. Therefore we, the EmPaci – Empowering Participatory Budgeting in the Baltic Sea Region -project set up a network: PBbase. The aim of this network is to share information and experiences regarding the implementation of participatory budgeting in different local settings. 

EmPaci is an EU Interreg BSR funded project called “Empowering Participatory Budgeting in the Baltic Sea Region”. In this Baltic Sea regional project we will develop and implement participatory budgeting in 9 municipalities in 6 countries (Finland, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and Russia).  

More information about the EmPaci-project is available at www.empaci.eu, and the Finnish PB case examples can be found at www.lab.fi/empaci (only in Finnish).

If you have any questions regarding the meeting on the 26th of November, please feel free to contact:
Lotta-Maria Sinervo from Tampere University (lotta-maria.sinervo@tuni.fi)

If you have any technical questions regarding the registreration or attenting the event on Zoom, please feel free to contact:
Meri Pulkkinen from Tampere University (meri.pulkkinen@tuni.fi)

Best regards,
On behalf of the EmPaci-team
Meri Pulkkinen
EmPaci-project
Tampere University
www.empaci.eu
meri.pulkkinen@tuni.fi
+358 50 569 2465

===================================================================================

EmPaci-project presents: Participatory budgeting at schools: trends and challenges 27.10.2021

Welcome to the fourth participatory budgeting networking afternoon hosted by the EmPaci - Empowering Participatory Budgeting in the Baltic Sea Region -project on the 27th of October 2021 at 14-15.30 Lithuanian time (UTC+3).  PBbase network is inviting you to join us in an event to discuss participatory budgeting experiences in schools.

The PBbase -event will be hosted by EmPaci-project partner leader Dr. Jaroslav Dvorak from Klaipėda University online on Zoom. A participation link will be sent to all registered participants closer to the date.

The EmPaci-partners would like to warmly invite you to register to this PBbase-event by filling this Google Forms -registration form no latest than the 26 of October:

https://forms.gle/EVy5fD7MyVwtVJUq6

The agenda for the event on the 27th of October 2021 at 14-15.30 Lithuanian time (UTC+3) is as follows:

  • 14.00 Opening words, Dr. Jaroslav Dvorak (Klaipeda University, Lithuania)
  • 14.05 Promoting inclusion of young people with PB, Dr. Pauliina Lehtonen (Tampere University, Finland) and Katarzyna Radzik-Maruszak (University of Maria Curie-Skłodowska, Poland)
  • 14.25 Participatory budgeting as mechanism to involve students in decision making processes with Aleksandra Ilijin (OPENS, Novi sad, Serbia)
  • 14.45 „Schüler*innenHaushalt Berlin (Student Budget - Participatory Budgeting in schools)“  with Victoria Mrowetz (Schüler*innenHaushalt Servicestelle Jugendbeteiligung e.V., Berlin, Germany)
  • 15.05 Time for discussion

The event ends by 15.30

Many municipalities and other stakeholders are currently planning or implementing participatory budgeting (PB) in the Baltic Sea Region. As PB is a joint effort, it is important to learn from others. Therefore we, the EmPaci – Empowering Participatory Budgeting in the Baltic Sea Region -project are setting up a network: PBbase. The aim of this network is to share information and experiences regarding the implementation of participatory budgeting in different local settings.

EmPaci is an EU Interreg BSR funded project called “Empowering Participatory Budgeting in the Baltic Sea Region”. In this Baltic Sea regional project, we will develop and implement participatory budgeting in 9 municipalities in 6 countries (Finland, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and Russia).

More information about the EmPaci-project is available at www.empaci.eu, and the Lithuanian PB case examples can be found at LT-EmPaci (only in English).

If you have any questions regarding the meeting on the 27th of October, please feel free to contact:

Jaroslav Dvorak from Klaipėda University (jaroslav.dvorak@ku.lt)

========================================================================================

EmPaci-project presents: PBbase – Participatory budgeting networking afternoon 16.6.2021

The second participatory budgeting networking afternoon hosted by the EmPaci - Empowering Participatory Budgeting in the Baltic Sea Region -project on the 16th of June 2021 at 14-15.30 Finnish time (UTC+3). 
The newly named participatory budgeting network PBbase is inviting you to join us in an event to discuss smaller scale participatory budgeting experiences in smaller scale municipalities.

The PBbase -event was hosted by EmPaci-project partner leader Dr. Lotta-Maria Sinervo from Tampere University online on Zoom. 

The agenda for the event on the 16th of June 2021 at 14-15.30 Finnish time (UTC+3) is as follows:

14.00 Opening words, Lotta-Maria Sinervo (Tampere University)
14.05 Researching smaller scale PBs, Pauliina Lehtonen (Tampere University)
14.30 Participatory budgeting experiences from Rietavas, Lithuania, Laima Dockevičienė and Rasa Baliulevičienė (Rietavas Tourism and Business Information Centre)
14.45 Participatory budgeting experiences in a distant and sparsely populated municipality in Inari, Finland, Verena Kortelainen (Municipality of Inari)
15.00 Time for discussion
The event ends by 15.30

Many municipalities and other stakeholders are currently planning or implementing participatory budgeting (PB) in the Baltic Sea Region. As PB is a joint effort, it is important to learn from others. Therefore we, the EmPaci – Empowering Participatory Budgeting in the Baltic Sea Region -project are setting up a network: PBbase. The aim of this network is to share information and experiences regarding the implementation of participatory budgeting in different local settings.

EmPaci is an EU Interreg BSR funded project called “Empowering Participatory Budgeting in the Baltic Sea Region”. In this Baltic Sea regional project we will develop and implement participatory budgeting in 9 municipalities in 6 countries (Finland, Germany, Lithuania,

Latvia, Poland and Russia). We will develop guidance and support on how participatory budgeting can be implemented together with country specific documentation.  Also, we have developed a participatory budgeting training programme for local governments on how to develop the participatory budgeting processes.