27-28 August 2021 | UCLG ASPAC supported the initiative of local government of Seoul to involve their local citizen in optimising local budget use through Seoul Forum on Citizen Participation. This year’s event was organised to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Seoul’s Participatory Budgeting initiative.
UCLG ASPAC Secretary General Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi on her presentation expressed her high appreciation to the efforts made by Seoul Metropolitan Government to ensure that the voices of local people are heard. According to her, the initiative was an important contribution particularly to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By applying participatory budgeting programme, Seoul has encouraged citizen ownership that helps local governments in the implementation phase and ensured the achievement of the programme’s targets (specifically) and SD Goal(s) (eventually). On this occasion, she also shared the roadmap created by UCLG ASPAC for local governments to localise SDGs as well as for local government associations. Further, she also shared several good practices of cities in Asia, including Bojonegoro (Indonesia) and Naga City (Philippines).
This event also invited other distinguished speakers, such as Mr. Yves Cabannes (Emeritus Professor of Development Planning, University College London) in Plenary Lecture; Ms. Coline Berthaud (Head of Participatory Budgeting Department, City of Paris); Mr. José M. Becerra (Technical Advisor, Madrid City Council); Mr. Young-hoon Ahn (Chief Director of the Public Policy Future Institute (PPFI), Hansei University); and Mr. Byoung Kwon Oh (Ministry of the Interior and Safety Director General for Local Finance Policy).
UCLG ASPAC is glad to be able to join and participate in the event and hope that the insights could contribute to better implementation of the initiative.
