Local Government
20-25
Large Cities
0
Capital Cities
0
Regional or State Governments
0
National Government
0
Other Institutions
0
Local Government
20-25
Large Cities
0
Capital Cities
0
Regional or State Governments
0
National Government
0
Other Institutions
0
Community
Capital
Helsinki
Population
5 518 050
Language
Finnish
Currency
Euro
Indexes
Democracy
8
Full Democracy
Democracy
Democracy
8
Full Democracy
Democracy
Corruption Perception
3/180
Corruption Perception
Corruption Perception
3/180
Corruption Perception
Human Development
15
High
Human Development
Human Development
15
High
Human Development
World Happiness
1/156
World Happiness
World Happiness
1/156
World Happiness
Legislation Regarding the Regulation of Participatory Budgeting Experiences
Not regulated but recognized as an example of the opportunities to participate or exert influence in Finnish Local Government act 415/2015, in section 22.
Outstanding Innovation
We cannot name any “main innovation” in the PB process, but we want to name a couple of examples from our capital city Helsinki. Helsinki Central Library Oodi opened its doors to the public on 5.12.2018. Oodi has been designed by listening to and engaging its users so that it would match city residents’ hopes and needs in the best possible manner. In 2012, hundreds of library dreams of residents were collected, and with the help of participatory budgeting city residents were able to allocate funds to the development projects of the Central Library. Over the years, various customer panels and development communities have shared their input as users in Oodi’s design process. Future users have had their say, for example, in the choice of Oodi’s seats and the collection of magazines and journals. The name of the library, too, was selected through an open name competition. Oodi is truly a house of all city residents. Another example from Helsinki city, on-going process: Helsinki’s new participation plan (16.11.2017).
The Helsinki City Board approved on 13 November 2017 the implementation of a participation plan for 2018- 2021 based on the City principles for participation and interaction. The City participation policies define the model for participation, participatory budgeting, resident and user juries, and online participation. The participation plan was prepared in cooperation with residents and various communities. In addition to resident participation, the City of Helsinki’s participation plan includes extensive participation of associations, the business community and other stakeholders,as well as interaction with them, in the various stages of planning and decision-making. The components of participation and interaction will include local participation and city guides, who can help residents to promote initiatives and development proposals in their role as the local persons in charge in participation activities. The role of corporate guides is to promote business activities in their areas. A budget allocated to participatory budgeting should be used locally or for city-wide projects. Proposals for participatory budgeting projects can be made and voted on by all Helsinki residents aged 12 (who turn 12 in the year of making or voting on a proposal) and older. The participation plan also includes a plan for the development of volunteer activities in the city. The City also seeks to promote participation by opening City-owned public spaces for resident and community activities more extensively than before.
Other Information
Participatory budgeting is gradually becoming more common used method in Finnish municipalities. We don’t have an accurate information from the municipalities, and no follow-up information from regional or national level.
