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Dabrowa Gornicza: Participatory Budget 2.2 – Dialogue Instead of Competition

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Dąbrowa Górnicza, a city of around 106,000 residents in southern Poland, has developed the Participatory Neighbourhood Budget (DBP) since 2013, evolving from a voting-based model into the current deliberative DBP 2.2. Earlier editions revealed limitations such as competition and conflict, leading to a shift in 2017 toward dialogue-based decision-making. Subsequent versions refined cooperation between residents and municipal administration, improving both process quality and outcomes.

DBP 2.2 enables residents across 36 neighbourhoods to jointly identify needs and decide on local investments through moderated discussions rather than voting. The annual process begins with idea submissions, followed by feasibility checks and collaborative development of projects during neighbourhood forums. In the 11th edition (2025), 344 ideas were submitted, 46 forums engaged 633 participants, and 98 projects were selected for implementation. Each year, 7 million PLN is allocated to these initiatives.

The model is fully inclusive, open to all age groups, and ensures that all funded projects are publicly accessible. By replacing competition with deliberation, DBP 2.2 reduces conflict, strengthens civic skills, and improves project quality. Over 13 years, it has delivered 882 projects worth 79.4 million PLN, enhancing local infrastructure and public spaces.

DBP 2.2 has strengthened social cohesion, improved collaboration across municipal departments, and fostered a culture of dialogue and shared responsibility. It operates as a permanent, transparent process with annual evaluation and public reporting, and has become a benchmark for participatory governance, inspiring similar approaches in other municipalities.

Learn more about: https://twojadabrowa.pl/ 


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Dabrowa Gornicza: Participatory Budget 2.2 – Dialogue Instead of Competition

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