Is there participatory budgeting in rural areas?

Yes, and they are extremely important for the inclusion of regions and human settlements (villages, parishes, aldeas, veredas) where the poorest populations in the municipal area often reside. In spite of the fact that these settlements represent a low proportion (in percentage terms, although not always in economic terms) of the total population, many municipalities assign a much higher amount of resources to them proportionally.61 In some municipalities, the Participatory Budget has been an instrument of inclusion and development for the rural municipal areas. Some have even limited the Participatory Budget to the rural zone of the municipality, with a similar approach.

In the UK, there are a number of rural projects developing, including national pilots in Wiltshire and Cornwall.  These are both currently in development.  However, Coedpoeth in North Wales has also implemented some very successful PB mechanisms in a very rural area.  Please see our case studies for more information.