BYF Participates in Citizen Budget Workshop to Strengthen Civic Engagement and Budget Transparency

The Bougainville Youth Federation (BYF) joined fellow Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) from across Bougainville in a five-day Citizen Budget Workshop facilitated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funded by the European Union (EU). Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and community leaders from across the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB) rece

ntly came together to strengthen their understanding of transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in public financial management. The workshop focused on the establishment of a CSO Coalition on Transparency and Accountability, while also exploring the roles and responsibilities of civil society in promoting good governance. Participants were guided through the key steps involved in developing a citizen budget and discussed effective strategies for disseminating and communicating the 2026 Citizen Budget to communities, ensuring that budget information is accessible, understandable, and inclusive for all citizens.

The workshop brought together representatives from the Bougainville Women’s Federation (BWF), Nazareth Centre for Rehabilitation (NCFR), Bougainville Disabled Persons Organization (BDPO) and Bougainville Youth in Agriculture (BYiA) The training aimed to build the capacity of CSOs to better understand, develop, and promote citizen budgets as a tool for enhancing transparency, accountability, and public participation in government budgeting processes.

Throughout the five-day program, participants gained valuable knowledge on the concept of citizen budgeting and its role in making public financial information more accessible to communities. Sessions focused on understanding budget processes, analyzing financial information, and developing citizen-friendly budget documents that can help citizens better understand how public funds are allocated and spent.

The workshop also provided practical guidance on how CSOs can engage communities in budget discussions and advocate for greater public involvement in decision-making processes. Through group discussions and collaborative exercises, participants explored strategies for ensuring that community priorities and concerns are reflected in government planning and budget allocations.

A significant outcome of the workshop was the discussion on establishing a coalition among participating CSOs. The proposed coalition would serve as a collaborative platform for civil society organizations to work together in advancing citizen budget initiatives throughout Bougainville. By strengthening partnerships and coordinating advocacy efforts, the coalition aims to promote greater civic participation and support the presentation of citizen budget recommendations to Parliament.

BYF recognizes the importance of empowering citizens, particularly young people, to understand and engage in public financial management processes. Participation in the workshop reflects BYF’s ongoing commitment to promoting youth participation, good governance, transparency, and inclusive development across Bougainville.

BYF extends its appreciation to UNDP and the European Union for facilitating this important capacity-building initiative and for supporting civil society organizations in strengthening democratic participation and accountability within Bougainville.

Representatives from the BYF Secretariat, BDPO and BWF receiving their certificates after the 5 day workshop.