Synergy as the Highest-Level Participatory budgeting Model

This study expanded Arnstein's Ladder of Citizen Participation by introducing synergy as the highest level, emphasizing collaboration, mutual trust, and shared responsibilities for inclusive and transparent village budget management.The study employed a qualitative case study in Poka Village, using in-depth interviews, participatory observations, and document reviews to examine participatory budgeting and the role of synergy.The findings revealed that synergy enhanced participatory budgeting by fostering citizen involvement, aligning decisions with community needs, and promoting trust and collaboration to improve governance effectiveness.The study highlighted challenges like communication barriers and conflicting interests, stressing the need for better participation mechanisms and capacity-building, especially for marginalized groups.The study identified challenges like communication barriers and conflicting interests, underscoring the need for enhanced participation mechanisms and capacity-building, particularly for marginalized groups.