Improving the transparency, inclusivity and impact of participatory budgeting in Indonesian cities

Decentralisation has provided the opportunity for the participatory model of development planning and budgeting to be applied in Indonesia. Within the participatory planning and budgeting context, known as Musrenbang (Musyawarah Perencanaan Pembangunan), Indonesia attempts to apply a top-down and bottom-up mechanism simultaneously. Musrenbang enables local government to better engage citizens and discuss community aspirations and priorities in a formal forum. This study analyses a comparative approach in six Indonesian cities, including Solo, Makassar, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Bandung and the Municipality of Kebumen. Through the experiences in each city, this research examines the ideal conditions for effective participatory budgeting to thrive in Indonesia. This study explores innovations and supporting policies that can be beneficial to improving the implementation of Musrenbang.