Collaborative Governance Research Articles

Research trends of collaborative governance in climate change: a bibliometric analysis

Purpose Climate change, a complex global issue, has prompted a wide range of actors – from nations to tiny communities – to seek solutions to mitigate its consequences. The growing emphasis on collaborative governance has resulted in substantial research on the topic. This paper aims to address the existing research void by using a bibliometric approach to investigate the evolution of studies on collaborative governance in the context of climate change. Design/methodology/approach This study conducted a bibliometric mapping of research on collaborative governance on climate change issues from the first study presented in 2007 to the research conducted in 2023, using 222 articles derived from the Scopus database and Web of Science. Steps for comprehensive bibliometric literature mapping via the VOSviewer software. Findings The study includes a complete overview of significant themes, including the most cited research, contributions from authors, countries, and institutions, as well as network analysis including co-citation, bibliographic coupling, and co-occurrence. Notably, the study looks at which countries have made the most substantial contributions, with the United States dominating with 40 studies over the last decade. The analysis reveals that collaborative governance in climate change, emphasizing its importance as a tool for governments and communities to mitigate climate risks. This is consistent with research emphasizing the need for coordination across multiple players to accomplish effective climate adaptation. The paper focuses on nine diverse research clusters, including community engagement, urban governance, disaster response and economic implications. Research limitations/implications This study is restricted to bibliometric analysis, which is conducted using sources from the Scopus and Web of Science databases. Future research is required to investigate the use of additional databases that offer a wider range of sources. In the interim, this investigation provides an overview of the concept of Collaborative Governance, which has the potential to serve as a strategy for the adaptation and resilience to climate change in global regions, cities and urban areas. Originality/value This study conducts a rigorous bibliometric review that improves our theoretical knowledge and practical use of collaborative governance in addressing climate change. It reveals innovative trends, research gaps and important recommendations for future studies, strengthening the strategic approach to collaborative climate action.

Attractiveness of tourist destinations and collaborative tourism governance on Revisit Intention as a support for the tourism economy of the Paropo area of Dairi Regency with Tourist Experience as an Intervening Variable

The challenge of tourism is how to create tourists who are loyal to tourist destinations because every corner of tourism has an impact on the economy for the business community in the tourist destination area, if tourist visitors enjoy their tour and have the intention to return to visit the tour, it will have an impact on increasing the economy of the community located in tourist destinations. This research will be conducted in Sumatra Utaran precisely at the location of the paropo tourist spot in Dairi Regency with a population of paropo tourist visitors who have visited at least twice as many as 230 tourists, this research approach is quantitative with the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) model. This approach is able to test a model that is most ideal in estimating endogenous variables, the sampling technique in this study uses Non-probability sampling where sampling does not provide opportunities or opportunities for each element or member to be selected as a sample The analysis model used to test the hypothesis in this study is multiple regression analysis using the Smart PLS application Directly that the attractiveness of tourist destinations, collaborative tourism governance and tourist experience have a significant effect on Revisit Intention as a support for the tourism economy of the Paropo area of Dairi Regency. Directly that the attractiveness of tourist destinations and collaborative tourism governance have a significant effect on tourist experience as a support for the tourism economy of the Paropo area of Dairi Regency. Indirectly, tourist experience has a significant role in mediating the attractiveness of tourist destinations and collaborative tourism governance on revisit intension as a support for the tourism economy of the Paropo area of Dairi Regency

Strengthening public health professionals in policymaking in the Eastern WHO European region

Abstract Background The collaborative research between EUPHA and WHO aimed to explore factors impacting public health professionals’ (PHP) involvement in health policy processes in the Eastern WHO European Region, addressing barriers, enablers, and capacity-building needs. Methods Utilizing a mixed methodology, the study employed document analysis, scoping review, and interviews to triangulate data, with the document analysis focusing on 4 published Essential Public Health Operations Self-Assessment Reports, the scoping review analysing 15 key articles, and 5 semi-structured interviews providing additional insight from key country stakeholders. Results Core findings revealed significant barriers impeding PHPs' participation in policy processes. Among others, these included limited intersectoral collaboration, shortage of skilled public health (PH) personnel, financial resource constraints and inadequate governance structures. Conversely, several enablers were identified, such as a positive trend in increased intersectoral collaboration and innovative governance structures during Covid-19, the development of more trained PHPs and the utilization of International Health Organisations. The two main capacity building needs reported were the importance of modernizing PH education and promoting intersectoral collaboration. Conclusions This study offers a preliminary overview of how PHPs' involvement in health policy processes in these countries can be enhanced: More intersectoral collaboration, updated PH education curricula and trainings, and governance re-design building on positive trends seen during the pandemic. Following actions are recommended: Creation of an international platform for cross-sectoral PH communication & exchange, direct support for universities and PH researchers, development of comprehensive PH trainings, assistance in forming or strengthening national public health associations and identification & sharing of effective local governance practices. Key messages • This research identifies barriers to PHPs’ participation in Eastern WHO European Region's health policy processes, while highlighting enablers like increased collaboration during Covid-19 to build on. • Recommendations to harness the enablers include clear actions such as creating an international public health platform for interaction and exchange or build-up of national public health associations.

Hybrid accountability in global health public-private partnerships: a literature and case study

Abstract Background Recent global health public-private partnerships (PPPs) offer novel approaches to public health issues, yet they lack clear public accountability. Hence, it remains unclear how accountability is organised and practiced. This research examines accountability in global health PPPs, how it is manifested, and derives lessons for developing an accountability framework. Methods The study utilized both a scoping literature review, examining the databases SCOPUS, Web of Science and MEDLINE, which yielded 35 eligible articles from 334 records, and an exploratory case study focused on an accountability event within the Global Stop Tuberculosis Partnership (STBP), incorporating a document analysis and an expert interview to enhance insights from the literature review. Results Authors studying PPPs often conceptualized accountability broadly and favoured a view tied to hierarchical state-led governance and democracy. However, at the global level, this political accountability is largely absent. In PPPs, it is replaced by a mix of bureaucratic, legal, social, audit, fiscal, and rather soft accountability mechanisms. Also, PPPs' accountability landscape is dynamic, shaped by different normative considerations and by the interdependence among partners. In 2020, the allegations for misconduct at the STBP exemplified public reputational accountability, followed by audit accountability leading to an enforced soft accountability to STBPs' mission & purpose. Conclusions This study highlights the necessity for rethinking accountability in global health PPPs due to the limitations of existing structuralist frameworks. A new hybrid accountability framework is proposed. It considers a strong accountability focus on PPPs' purpose, their processual dynamics, and normative aspects. Lastly, it is recommended to further investigate the trade-off between transparent accountability mechanisms and the practical necessity for confidential backstage processes in PPPs. Key messages • Exploring a hybrid accountability framework in global health PPPs beyond only static accountability snapshots, helps to understand PPPs’ true dynamic, purpose-driven and individualized accountability. • Without regulatory mechanisms and state governance, individual action and new collaboration become essential, requiring soft accountability mechanisms as increased trust and cooperation among partners.

Exploring the Combinatorial Effects of Collaborative Factors Leading to Higher Degree of Co‐Production

ABSTRACTThis study investigates the collaborative factors conducive to co‐production in public services, utilizing Ansell and Gash's framework and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) across 18 cases from the Collaborative Governance Case Database (CGCD). It identifies incentive as a necessary condition for co‐production, revealing three sufficient pathways to co‐production: managed, led, and self‐organized co‐production. The findings advance our understanding of the specific collaborative configurations that can achieve higher degree of co‐production, offering an “incentive‐structure‐behavior” framework and practical insights for policy makers seeking to enhance public service co‐production.

Participation in Energy Transitions: A Comparison of Policy Styles

Stakeholder and public participation in policymaking for energy transitions is one of the most promising approaches to fulfilling the promises of a democratic sustainability transition. Over the years, many studies have been published about concepts, methodologies, and empirical results of participatory approaches and implementations. In this paper, we focus on the compatibility of participatory processes with different policy styles of democratic governance. We conducted a systematic literature search comparing different concepts of democratic governance and applying them to public participation, in particular that associated with energy transitions. Our main objective in this paper is to link the requirements for a sustainable energy transition to governance processes and structures; we further aim to delineate suitable formats for stakeholder and public participation. Our analysis provides a basis for a wide-ranging and multi-perspective research agenda that promises to provide a deeper understanding and explanation of complex governance arrangements for energy transitions. The five democratic policy styles that we selected for this review are: autocratic, adversarial, collaborative, reflexive, and inclusive governance. We conclude that none are adequate on their own, and so we put forth a novel hybrid we call the “mediative approach.” From this approach, we derive a new research framework for addressing the current challenges of democratic decision-making in energy transitions. Three pressing questions emerge, one relating to the interplay of top-down and bottom-up modes of governance; a second to the conditions for actor collaboration; and a third to the perception of democratic legitimacy by affected parties.

Bridging Global Mandates and Local Realities: Intermediary Clusters and Interorganizational Collaboration for International Development

Addressing international sustainable development is an urgent and critical challenge. Existing research has focused on the role of individual intermediary organizations in supporting and shaping inclusive local markets to enhance development. However, it has overlooked how clusters of organizations act as intermediaries to build development capacity, and how they do so through local public institutions. This study focuses on the United Nations (UN) system and examines a specific transnational governance arrangement (Delivering as One) that envisioned the creation of local clusters of UN organizations to facilitate institutional capacity-building in developing countries. By comparing the evolution of the eight pilot UN arrangements, we distil a model of how intermediary clusters facilitate local capacity-building through a process of contextual bridging driven by interorganizational collaboration within the cluster. Our findings identify four mechanisms of contextual bridging. The first two—functional amalgamation of operations and development of a cohesive collective voice—strengthened internal collaboration among cluster members; subsequently, sharing authority with local stakeholders and the local calibration of interorganizational collaboration (IOC) allowed the entrenchment of IOC into the local context. Our work contributes to the literature on interorganizational collaboration and transnational governance in the face of global challenges.

Promoting Sustainability: Collaborative Governance Pathways for Virtual Water Interactions and Environmental Emissions

This study explores the water consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the Yarkand River Basin, focusing on their dynamic interactions across industrial sectors. Utilizing environmental input–output analysis (IOA), the CROPWAT model, and life cycle assessment (LCA), we quantified the historical evolution of physical and virtual water cycles in relation to the water–carbon nexus. Our findings reveal that the planting industry, particularly the production of export-oriented, water-intensive crops like cotton, significantly contributes to both blue and green water consumption, exacerbating regional water scarcity. The persistent external market demand drives this over-extraction, further strained by the basin’s limited water retention capabilities. Although advancements have been made in reducing the per-unit water footprint of crops, total water consumption continues to rise due to agricultural expansion, intensifying pressure on blue water resources. Additionally, agricultural GHG emissions have surged, driven by increased electricity consumption, heavy fertilizer use, and escalating soil N2O emissions. In light of these challenges, our research underscores the critical need for integrated resource management strategies that align with sustainable development goals. By promoting efficient water allocation within the agricultural sector and diversifying crop structures downstream, we can enhance ecosystem resilience and reduce environmental degradation. Furthermore, the advancement of value-added agricultural processing and the implementation of innovative water conservation technologies are essential for fostering economic sustainability. These strategies not only mitigate the environmental impacts associated with agricultural practices but also strengthen the region’s adaptive capacity in the face of climate change and fluctuating market demands. Our findings contribute to the broader discourse on sustainable agricultural practices, emphasizing the interconnectedness of water management, climate resilience, and economic viability in arid regions.

Toward Sustainable Water Governance? Taking Stock of Paradigms, Practices, and Sustainability Outcomes

ABSTRACTGovernance is key to ensuring the sustainability of water systems in the long run. With the recognition of the complexities inherent in governing water resources, new and diverse governance models have started to emerge and be diffused to various contexts. This systematic review explores 223 cases from 165 studies on water governance and sustainability. We assess the cases based on water governance paradigms and how these paradigms relate to governance characteristics, water‐related problématiques, and sustainability outcomes. Our results indicate a lack of knowledge cumulation and patterns connecting problématiques (e.g., “groundwater exploitation in agriculture”) and paradigms (e.g., “community‐based management”). We found that the “integrated approach to water management” was the most common paradigm, and paradigms might manifest with various governance characteristics, some of which may not fully align with the paradigm's fundamental principles. While certain paradigms, such as “integrated approach to water management,” “participatory and collaborative governance,” and “community‐based management,” are mostly associated with better sustainability outcomes, these successes should be interpreted cautiously due to the context‐sensitive nature of paradigms and potential biases in the reviewed studies. These findings provide a basis for further diagnostic work and suggest the need for more nuanced approaches to water governance and sustainability.

Collective local liberalism: orchestrated local governments and the expansion of the BRI

ABSTRACT What drives the varied performance of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects? Can the central state’s role and the participating nations’ development needs fully account for the success or failure of individual BRI projects? This article challenges the dominant state-centric perspective, suggesting it falls short in elucidating the heterogeneous results of BRI projects. Through a comparative analysis of the Pan-Beibu Gulf Economic Cooperation Zone (PBGECZ) and the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC), the study reveals the impact of local government collaboration on the efficacy of China’s foreign policy. By proposing collective local liberalism, we argue that cooperative dynamics, rather than competitive, are crucial for the success of the BRI. This nuanced approach underscores the necessity of a collaborative framework among subnational actors to enhance the execution and outcomes of BRI projects, offering a more comprehensive understanding of Chinese foreign policy.

Water-Energy-Food Communities in South Africa: Exploring Multi-Actor Governance Instruments Contributing to Social Justice

Abstract South Africa faces significant challenges concerning the scarcity and unequal distribution of water, energy and food resources. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 underscores the importance of social justice and mandates collaboration among all levels of government and state entities. To effectively address the interconnected nature of these resources, a collaborative governance approach is necessary. This article introduces the concept of ‘Water-Energy-Food (wef) communities’, a concept not currently recognised in South African law, drawing inspiration from the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive (res-Directive) of 2018 and the Electricity Market Directive (E-Directive) of 2019 that introduced the concept of ‘energy communities’. wef communities, operating at the local level, could integrate improved governance and decision-making in the water, energy, and food sectors, thereby advancing social justice in local communities. The article compares existing multi-actor governance instruments in South African law and uses the EU law as learning points for the establishment of wef communities as opposed to energy communities that focus on one determinant only. Although the current South African multi-actor governance instruments do not explicitly address an integrated wef governance approach, they may serve as a basis for proposing framework rules to establish wef communities, highlighting their potential to achieve social justice goals in relation to their access to water, energy and food. The article proposes rules for the potential establishment of wef communities, taking learning points from the EU directives as well as existing South African instruments.

Governmental implementation of information and communication technology at the local level: Digital co‐production during a crisis

AbstractThe rapid expansion of volunteerism, especially during COVID‐19, requires efficient organisation of citizen volunteers, thus leading professionals to utilise information and communication technology (ICT) as an enabling tool for interaction and coordination. This study focuses on professionals’ perspectives at the local level regarding governmental steps towards digitalisation and its application in volunteer co‐production. The policy implementation approach was used through in‐depth interviews with 19 local coordinators in Israel during the COVID‐19 crisis. This study found that, while central government invested efforts in training, guidance, and ICT support for professionals, the implementation of digital technologies was not successful at the local level. This highlights the need for digital platforms for volunteer coordination to be be tailored to specific cultural characteristics and local contexts. Neglected but important factors in ICT implementation were identified, including intra‐organisational dynamics, the local community, and authority. By addressing these contextual factors and adopting a more inclusive and context‐sensitive approach, digital platforms can better support local volunteer coordination efforts.Points for practitioners Adopt a holistic approach to digitalisation: Senior‐level administrators in central government should adopt a holistic approach to digitalisation, one that accounts for local contexts—cultural characteristics and collaborative governance structures. This approach should involve coordinators in the development process, together with other stakeholders involved in co‐production. Focus on user‐centric platform design and implementation: To ensure usability and acceptance among coordinators, practitioners should prioritise a user‐centric approach to platform design and implementation. This entails constructing intuitive, user‐friendly platforms, meeting the needs of the coordinators involved in the digitalisation process. Address organisational characteristics and overcome barriers: Practitioners should recognise municipal organisational characteristics, thus obviating potential barriers to digital technology implementation. This includes such factors as status and professional position within the municipality, securing bureaucratic commitment, and overcoming governmental bureaucracy or a lack of leadership.

Residents’ perceptions of tourism development in the context of a new governance framework for Portuguese protected areas: The case of a small peripheral natural park

Historically, Portuguese protected areas (PAs) have been operating under top-down governance, often neglecting local communities. In 2019, the Portuguese government established a new governance model for PAs, based on co-management. The new co-management approach emphasises collaborative and participatory governance and positions sustainable tourism as a catalyst for territorial revitalisation and local development. However, local communities' attitudes and perceptions regarding tourism in these areas remain largely uncharted. This study focuses on the Alvão Natural Park (PNAL), a small rural and mountainous Portuguese PA, which is currently in the early stages of co-management implementation. Our goal was to investigate local residents' perceptions of tourism's impacts and identify potential divergence among resident groups and their level of support for tourism development. These insights are crucial because the active engagement of local communities is a key element for sustainable tourism development and the successful implementation of co-management. The study employed a self-administered survey, garnering responses from 250 PNAL residents representing over half of the park's population. Factor analysis identified four primary perceptual dimensions and cluster analysis classified residents into three distinct groups based on their tourism perceptions. While most PNAL residents express support for tourism development, there is a resounding call for new policies to revert the legacy of top-down governance. This research provides essential insights for shaping effective tourism policies, planning and development strategies, and ensuring the active involvement of local communities in co-management and sustainable development efforts within the PNAL. Moreover, this study demonstrates the applicability of this research approach in the context of evolving governance models with the potential for adaptation to other PAs across Portugal and other countries undergoing similar governance transitions.

Challenges of Collaborative Government Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study of Factors and Cases in the United States

This study examines challenges of collaborative government response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. The study provides a review of theoretical issues about collaboration in disaster management and public health to identify influential factors, such as governance structure, effective leadership, public communication, and political polarization, to the collaboration. Based on the document analysis method, the study examines practical cases, academic studies and public opinion data that are related to these challenging factors. The study concludes with discussions about lessons of the COVID pandemic challenge and suggestions for future studies of collaborative governance response to public crises.

Collaborative governance of an integrated system for collecting contributions for social health insurance, pension, and taxes from the informal sector: a synthesis of stakeholder perspectives

BackgroundMany low-and middle-income countries have adopted social health insurance schemes. However, the collection of contributions from the large informal sector of these economies poses a significant challenge. Employing an integrated system of contribution collection from all relevant institutions may be cost-effective. We used the integrative framework for collaborative governance, to explore and explain factors that may shape the governance of an integrated system for collecting contributions for social health insurance, pension, and taxes from the informal sector in Zambia.MethodsWe undertook a qualitative case study involving 25 key informants drawn from government ministries and institutions, cooperating partners, non-governmental organizations, and association representatives in the informal sector. Data were analyzed thematically using Emerson’s integrative framework for collaborative governance.ResultsThe main drivers of collaboration included a need for comprehensive policies and legislation to oversee the integrated system for contribution collection, prevent redundancy, reduce costs, and enhance organizational effectiveness. However, challenges such as leadership issues and coordination complexities were noted. Factors affecting principled engagement within the collaborative regime consisted of communication gaps, organizational structure disparities, and the adoption of appropriate strategies to engage the informal sector. Additionally, factors influencing shared motivation involved concerns about power dynamics, self-interests, trust issues, corruption, and a lack of common understanding of the informal sector.ConclusionThis study sheds light on a multitude of factors that may shape collaborative governance of an integrated system for contribution collection for social health insurance, pension, and taxes from the informal sector, providing valuable insights for policymakers and implementers alike. Expanding social health insurance coverage to the large but often excluded informal sector will require leveraging factors identified in this study to enhance collaboration with pension and tax subsystems.

Research on the impact of industrial big data on the collaborative governance of pollution reduction and carbon reduction

Research on the impact of industrial big data on the collaborative governance of pollution reduction and carbon reduction

Strengthening Collaborative Governance in the Department of Transportation: Implementation and Enforcement Levies

This article explores the strengthening of collaborative governance within Indonesia's Department of Transportation, focusing on the implementation and enforcement of levies. It highlights the integration of diverse stakeholders, including government bodies, private sector entities, and civil society, to create a more effective levy management system. However, a lack of collaboration between the Palembang city government and the local community has hindered the effectiveness of levies. Key strategies for improvement include promoting transparency, shared decision-making, and the use of innovative technologies. The study underscores the importance of trust and accountability among stakeholders to enhance compliance and enforcement. In Palembang, the capital of South Sumatra Province, transportation and traffic management challenges necessitate the effective implementation of levies. Employing a qualitative approach through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation, the research reveals that collaborative efforts between local governments, the private sector, and the community are essential, despite challenges such as limited resources and community resistance. The findings suggest that while collaborative governance can improve the effectiveness of levy enforcement, it requires commitment and active participation from all parties. Recommendations include enhancing human resource capacity, strengthening regulatory frameworks, and raising public awareness of the importance of levies for regional revenue. This study also aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in improving infrastructure, fostering sustainable cities (SDG 11), and promoting effective partnerships (SDG 17).

Supply chain management and the performance of small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria

This paper examined the relationship between supply chain management practices (SCM) and performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. It aimed to explain how SCM practices like strategic suppliers’ alliances, information sharing, and collaborative governance impacts the performance of SMEs in Nigeria. SME success was measured using a continuum of operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and profitability. To reach the study's goal, a survey research approach was used, with a sample of 352 respondents representing the owners and senior management members of registered SMEs in Nigeria. Because the study depended on quantitative analysis, respondents' opinions were collected using a standardised closed-ended questionnaire. The gathered data was analysed using IBM SPSS 28 and IBM AMOS. The study found a positive and substantial correlation between chosen SCM practices and the performance of SMEs in Nigeria, as shown by the coefficients and p-values (SSA = 0.544; P <.001; IFS = 0.621; P <.001; CGV = 0.673; P <.001). It is therefore argued that SCM techniques such as strategic partnerships with suppliers, information sharing, and collaborative governance have a favourable and significant influence on the performance of SMEs in Nigeria. Consistent with the findings and current literature, this study recommends that Nigerian SMEs form strategic supplier relationships by sharing continuous improvement programs with important suppliers and include key suppliers in their planning and goal-setting processes. Keywords: Supply Chain Management, Strategic Supplier Alliance, Information Sharing, Collaborative Governance, Performance.

Resource Planning and Collapse of Buildings in Kiambu County, Kenya

Purpose: The research sought to find out the impacts of resource planning on building collapse in Kiambu County, Kenya. Therefore, this research aimed to establish the impact of resource planning on building collapse in Kiambu to be able to advise on how to contain the problem and enhance the non-collapse of such buildings. Methodology: In this study, the authors adopted a simple random sampling technique to identify construction projects in Kiambu County based on Kahneman and Tversky’s Scheduling Fallacy Theory that covers problems such as over-optimism and false resource forecasting on resource requirement necessary for efficient completion of the project. The descriptive research method was also used in the study since it included both qualitative and quantitative data. The population of the study consisted of 545, which included the employees from the physical planning department, architects, surveyors, engineers, and contractors’ builders, and finally the sample size came to 231 as estimated By Yamane, 1967. Findings: The research findings revealed that poor resource management has partly influenced building failures. Attempts by the contractors to solve the problem and eradicate the vice have been frustrated by the locals and politicians for their selfish reasons which have not been highlighted in this study. The research also pointed out that handling of resources reveals the highest mean score of 4.1773 this means that most respondents hold positive attitudes towards their practice of resource planning. Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy, and Practice: The Scheduling Fallacy Theory of 1979 by Kahneman and Tversky was utilized to examine the construction collapses of Kiambu County and the cognitive biases of underestimating time, resources, and costs in construction projects. The study suggested that strict adherence to building codes, better regulatory standards, risk evaluation, and better resource allocation are needed. Prevention was recommended through cross-sector collaboration of government, developers, contractors, and regulatory bodies alike. Empirical research into resource planning faults and their impact on structural integrity was proposed.

The participatory budgeting and the collaborative governance movement at the Hungarian local government level

This paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of participatory budgeting (PB) practices in Hungary by exploring the experiences of three local governments. The research specifically investigates the environmental conditions conducive to PB adoption, internal organizational factors influencing its success and the short- and long-term outcomes of the process. Although in well-developed democracies attributed with active local communities has a long tradition in participation and cooperation between government and citizens, the Hungarian context offers a unique examination of participatory budgeting (PB) due to the developing civil sector and historical mistrust between government and civil society. However, in the context of increasing governmental centralization, local initiatives advocating for citizen-driven budgets are emerging. This research explores the feasibility of implementing participatory budgeting in this challenging environment. The interplay of a fledgling civil sector, entrenched scepticism, and centralization provides a distinctive backdrop for understanding PB dynamics in Hungary.