What is participatory budgeting in the context of COPAR?

Participatory budgeting in the context of COPAR refers to a democratic process where community members are directly involved in deciding how to allocate a portion of a budget. This approach empowers citizens by allowing them to have a say in financial decision-making that affects their community, fostering transparency and accountability. Participants can express their needs and priorities, collaborate with local officials, and actively engage in the budget development process, leading to more equitable and responsive funding allocations that reflect the actual needs of the community. By involving community members, participatory budgeting enhances civic engagement and can also build trust between citizens and government entities.

The other options focus either on top-down approaches to budgeting, which do not facilitate community involvement, or limit the scope of budgeting decisions to academic or event organization aspects, neglecting the broader participatory framework that aims for community empowerment and collective decision-making.