This is a CTP of initiative: Participatory Budgeting Porto Alegre (Brazil)
The decentralization aimed toward a territorialization of governance, so that each region of the city would have its own Regional Management Center (CAR), a kind of city hall office within the different regions’ of the city. Before this change there were 17 regions and 12 CAR, so some CAR used to attend more than one region. In 2016 there are 17 CAR, one in each region. For these CAR to work properly, the Governance Secretary created 4 administrative positions in each office. Those four people should work together to help people with the PB process, community mobilization, and service delivery, among other things.
According to the interviewee this was mostly a government initiative. Even though he does not know for certain, he believes that there was a need in the communities that did not have a CAR as well as those that had a CAR attending two regions: “There are large regions that did not have a CAR before. I imagine that it was hard for the CAR coordinator to manage them and also for the population that did not have this kind of proximity to the government”.
It is considered that this was an interesting move for the government to make, which would allow them to employ some allies in the CAR. This could be a politically motivated choice, because it allows them to give administrative positions to different parties while becoming more present in the communities, thus enlarging their influence.
This CTP was related to a new election in the city that changed the people in the government and also changed its internal structure, such as secretariats and management offices.
20I2 – Municipal Elections - In the 2012 election, the centrist party maintained its governance in the city hall, but proposed some structural changes that affected the PB, among other things. This CTP showed that strong political motivation exists in order to give positions to those involved in campaigning during elections (In Brazil, there are parties that work together in order to elect a group of rules to unite forces). Even though it seems good to have close relationships between the population and the government with more people concerned about what happens in the communities, it is hard to make this work if those people represent different parties and support different things.
2013 – Distribution of posts with strong political motivation - After elections, the distribution of posts has strong political motivation, some positions at the CARs are given to those involved in campaigning during elections (In Brazil, there are parties that work together in order to elect a group of rules to unite forces/ ). Even though it seems good to have close relationships between the population and the government with more people concerned about what happens in the communities, it is hard to make this work if those people represent different parties and support different things.
2013-2014 – Fights between people coordinating the CARs - The CARs have 4 managing positions filled up by 4 people from distinct parties who have difficulty working together in order to meet the communities’ best interests. Lots of arguments occurred in the CARs due to a conflict in politics and interests which prejudiced the communities they were put in place to serve.
The interviewee did not see any contestation from the population. He thinks that it is beneficial for the communities to have a closer relationship with the city hall. Considering the nominations for positions, the coalition parties had hoped that there would be a power-sharing attitude to benefit those involved in the election campaigning.
In a short space of time, a lot of arguments and disagreements started to take place within the CARs. There were some troubles with the internal management, which worried the government, and was a concern for the community that was losing its power due to internal political fights.
“I think the communities need to have the government as close to them as it can get”.
As previously mentioned, it was a governmental decision. They hoped to manage the regions by delivering better services, accompanying construction works that had been demanded from PB and making sure there were government representatives in each of the PB’s regions.
“Porto Alegre is a strange city, the downtown area is not in the center of the city. People have to travel a long distance if they need to be at the city hall or in a government office… but if you have a CAR close to where people live or work, you are benefiting that person. People have a new way to communicate with the government, an easier and closer way”. Regarding the population, the interviewee did not know if people had anticipated this change and it outcomes. But he acknowledged that this change helped the PB process in the regions. In that way, the PB’s Committee and the ObservaPOA could see that the territorialization of governance built bridges between the people, the government and the PB process. “The population felt invited and welcomed into the process once their community had a building to receive them, and had people that were concerned about their region and their demands. It is easier to approach people when you are closer to them”.
The interviewee recognizes that this CTP can help people to achieve their goals in the PB process. He considers that meeting the demands is the ultimate objective of the PB and having a decentralized approach in the regions can make it happen in a more effective way.
Regarding ObservaPOA and its relation to the communities, the CAR can help the researchers with training because they have contact with the representatives and the structure to enable them to conduct trainings and meetings.
The interviewee identified that they could have a tighter relationship with the CAR, in order for them to use all the date ObservaPOA offers, but he also knows that these kinds of relationships are built over time and that the decentralization is a recent strategy.
Finally, he says that there is much more potential for learning to come from the decentralization process that is not visible yet, but soon will be.
Stay informed. Subscribe for project updates by e-mail.
