Jaramillo, M. y Alcázar, L. (2013). ¿Tiene el presupuesto participativo algún efecto en la calidad de los servicios públicos? El caso del sector del agua y saneamiento en el Perú (Documentos de Investigación N° 67). Lima: GRADE.

Citizen participation should direct the public investment needs of the population, particularly for the benefit of the poorest. This is how the participatory budgeting (PP for its acronym in Spanish) process implemented in Peru in 2004 is conceived. However, this study finds that there is no evidence to suggest a robust relationship between PP and water coverage and service quality. This is explained by weaknesses in the PP process itself and in the role of the actors involved.

While the PP is expected to guide the demands of the population, the process faces important limitations that may make it inefficient in channeling resources to areas such as water and sanitation. In addition, it may produce inequitable outcomes in that the poor may face higher costs of participation. For their part, municipalities have limited technical capacity and resources to address investment requirements in this sector, and mayors may not be very interested in supporting the PP. Thus, although the PP has displaced “white elephant” type investment (stadiums, bullrings, etc.) from many municipalities and helped guide them towards projects more consistent with the basic needs of the population, it needs to be strengthened to achieve an active role in the provision of better quality services.

One variable that appears to make a difference in both water coverage and service quality is women’s political participation. In municipalities where women have greater participation, water service and coverage tend to be better. This should not be surprising, as it is known that women are much more concerned about access to drinking water. Thus, in a decentralized context and where women participate more, more demands are placed on government officials and water service providers to improve service.