odločamo skupaj - aktivna participacija in transparentnost v participativnem proračunu / "deciding together" - active participation and transparency in participatory budgeting

Odločamo skupaj – aktivna participacija in transparentnost v participativnem proračunu je bil zagovorniški in ozaveščevalni projekt Zavoda Aspira, namenjen pospešitvi uvedbe participativnega proračuna v Občini Trbovlje ter krepitvi aktivne vloge občanov pri odločanju o porabi javnih sredstev. Projekt je naslavljal pomanjkljivosti zakonodajnega okvira in tveganja netransparentne uvedbe participativnega proračuna brez dejanskega vključevanja prebivalcev.

V okviru projekta smo vzpostavili watchdog mehanizem za spremljanje postopkov, izvajali obsežno informativno in izobraževalno kampanjo za občane ter spodbujali dialog med prebivalci in občinskimi organi. Skozi javne predstavitve, delavnice, zbore občanov in sodelovanje z odločevalci smo prispevali k večji transparentnosti, odgovornosti in vključujočnosti lokalnih demokratičnih procesov. Cilj projekta je bil okrepiti zaupanje med občani in občino ter spodbuditi razvoj participativnega proračuna kot pravičnega in demokratičnega orodja lokalnega odločanja.

Kaj smo dosegli

• Optimizirali smo časovnico participativnega proračuna za leto 2025, vključno s spremembo datumov zbiranja predlogov in glasovanja.
• Izvedli smo informacijske delavnice za krajevne skupnosti ter zagotovili kontaktno osebo za podporo občanom pri pripravi predlogov in zbiranju podatkov o parcelah.
• Izboljšali smo učinkovitost procesa, saj smo obdobje glasovanja skrajšali na 10 dni in prispevali k spremembam pravilnika (8. in 12. člen).
• Prispevali smo k povečanju sredstev za participativni proračun v letu 2025, kar krepi dolgoročni vpliv mehanizma.
• V času trajanja projekta je bilo oddanih 17 predlogov, od tega 8 uvrščenih na glasovanje – vsi so bili izglasovani in poslani v izvedbo.
• Zabeležili smo visoko vključenost občanov, saj je bilo v letu 2024 oddanih 508 veljavnih glasov, v letu 2025 pa še več predlogov (20), kar kaže na večjo ozaveščenost in prepoznavnost participativnega proračuna v Občini Trbovlje.

Prispevek k indikatorjem programa Impact4Values

• Število ozaveščevalnih kampanj: 2
• Število udeležencev aktivnosti: 156
• Število politik ali zakonodajnih predlogov, na katere ste vplivali: 2
• Število oseb, ki so koristili vaše storitve (npr. svetovanje, pravne nasvete, izobraževanja): 81

Projekt nadgrajuje Aspirin izvorni projekt Odločamo skupaj ter krepi čezmejno sodelovanje z organizacijo Filmaktiv iz Hrvaške. Usmerjen je v izmenjavo dobrih praks participativnega proračuna, spodbujanje aktivne participacije mladih in krepitev kapacitet obeh partnerskih organizacij. V okviru projekta je nastala analiza stanja participativnega proračuna na Hrvaškem, izveden je bil študijski obisk v Zasavju, kjer so udeleženci spoznali tri uspešne prakse participatornega proračuna in delovanje mladinskega sektorja, hkrati pa sta partnerja začrtala ideje za nadaljnje skupne projekte.

Prispevek k indikatorjem programa Impact4Values

• Število izdanih publikacij: 1
• Število udeležencev aktivnosti: 10

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Deciding Together – Active Participation and Transparency in Participatory Budgeting was an advocacy and awareness-raising project implemented by the Aspira Institute, aimed at accelerating the introduction of participatory budgeting in the Municipality of Trbovlje and strengthening citizens’ active role in decision-making on the use of public funds. The project addressed shortcomings in the legislative framework and the risks of non-transparent implementation of participatory budgeting without genuine public involvement.

As part of the project, we established a civil society watchdog mechanism to monitor procedures, carried out an extensive information and educational campaign for citizens, and promoted dialogue between residents and municipal authorities. Through public presentations, workshops, citizens’ assemblies, and engagement with decision-makers, the project contributed to greater transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness of local democratic processes. The project aimed to strengthen trust between citizens and the municipality and to support the development of participatory budgeting as a fair and democratic tool for local decision-making.

What we achieved

• We optimised the timeline of the participatory budget for 2025, including changes to the dates for proposal submission and voting.
• We organised information workshops for local community councils and provided a dedicated contact person to support residents in preparing proposals and collecting parcel-related data.
• We improved the efficiency of the process by shortening the voting period to 10 days and contributing to amendments of the relevant regulation (Articles 8 and 12).
• We contributed to an increase in funding for the participatory budget in 2025, strengthening the long-term impact of the mechanism.
• During the project period, 17 proposals were submitted, of which 8 were put to a vote—all were approved and forwarded for implementation.
• We recorded a high level of citizen participation, with 508 valid votes cast in 2024, and an even higher number of proposals in 2025 (20 submissions), indicating increased awareness and recognition of the participatory budget in the Municipality of Trbovlje.

Contribution to Impact4Values programme indicators

• Number of awareness-raising campaigns: 2
• Number of participants in project activities: 156
• Number of policies or legislative proposals influenced: 2
• Number of individuals who used your services (e.g. counselling, legal advice, training): 81

The project builds on Aspirin’s original project Deciding Together and strengthens cross-border cooperation with the Croatian organization Filmaktiv. It focuses on the exchange of good practices in participatory budgeting, encouraging the active participation of young people, and strengthening the capacities of both partner organizations.

Within the project, an analysis of the state of participatory budgeting in Croatia was produced, and a study visit to the Zasavje region was carried out, where participants learned about three successful participatory budgeting practices and the functioning of the youth sector. At the same time, the partners outlined ideas for further joint projects.

Contribution to the Impact4Values programme indicators

• Number of published publications: 1
• Number of participants in activities: 10