The experience of the study visit in Portugal as part of the FLYE project opened up new horizons for our young participants. In particular, interest in Participatory Budgeting (PB) increased, along with questions about its application in Italy. We explored PB more deeply in the city of Rome, where the young participants live. Participatory Budgeting in Rome, known as #ROMADECIDE, is an innovative tool that directly involves citizens in deciding how to invest public resources. Specifically, it concerns the allocation and deliberation of 20 million euros designated for urban beautification across the entire city.
But how does it work in the Eternal City?
The initiative is promoted by the Municipality of Rome Capital, through the Department of Participation, Communication, and Equal Opportunities. All residents, people domiciled in the city, or those who study and work there (referred to as city users) can take part. Anyone can submit their ideas, which are then voted on online through the official municipal portal.
Not all of the city’s districts (Municipi) participate equally—some are much more active—but overall citizen interest is high. Each year, the participatory process gathers over 150 proposals and nearly 50,000 total participants. In 2023, after online voting, 111 proposals made it to the final phase, and 65 projects were approved and funded, distributed across 15 municipal rankings, plus one inter-municipal category.
In Rome, PB is seen as an effective tool to boost youth participation, which is traditionally underrepresented in decision-making processes. Some experimental initiatives at the municipal level have directly entrusted young people with managing parts of the participatory budget, with the aim of breaking down structural barriers to their involvement and promoting active citizenship. Although there is not yet a city-wide budget quota dedicated entirely to young people, the high participation rate of youth under-30s is prompting local administrations to consider this possibility.
As for the types of projects approved in recent years, the focus has been on green areas and public spaces: redevelopment of parks, squares, and urban areas; creation of pedestrian and cycling paths; construction of playgrounds, dog parks, and fitness trails. However, to date, only a portion of the approved projects (15 out of 65) have been completed, highlighting some challenges in implementation.
In summary, Rome’s PB is an important experiment in direct democracy that involves thousands of citizens, including youth, in managing public resources to improve the quality of urban life, with a focus on beautification and liveability of the city.
– L’isola che c’è
Website: L’ isola che c’é APS /Facebook: Isola Che /Instagram: isola.che
ABOUT
L’ISOLA CHE C’È (Italy) is a non-governmental organization promoting democracy, youth integration, and intercultural dialogue. Focused on empowering young people through non-formal education, it fosters a culture of civic engagement and human rights. The organization designs educational activities and cultural animations tailored to the needs of youth, integrating culture into play. Its approach combines Role Playing and Learning by Doing, offering hands-on workshops, role-playing games, and activities that promote active citizenship. The mission is to inspire and engage youth through cultural activities that blend education with play.