The Office of Community Participation: Shifting Organisational Culture

The Office of Community Participation functions as a catalyst for community-based social change in the 8th District Municipality of Budapest (Hungary). It was the first such office to be established in a local municipality in Hungary. As such, we have faced both the entrenched culture of rigid bureaucracy and the oppressive regime of the central government. Since its launching in 2020, the Office has been working to change the organisational culture in the mayor’s office as well as municipal institutions and companies towards a more open, flexible, citizen-oriented and participatory approach to delivering services and solving local problems. At the same time, the office is also supporting local residents and communities to become proactive, vocal and effective in advocating for their needs though community development and community organizing.

This session is part of the “Transforming How We Work” block, which runs from 14:15-15:00 CET. The sessions in this block will appear in the following order:

·      The Office of Community Participation: Shifting Organisational Culture

·      Tax and Transparency: The Treasury Map Approach

·      Transforming Lives, Transforming Organisations: Unlocking Creativity and Collaboration in the Public Sector

·      Embedding Strategic Learning in Local Governments

·      An Integrated Approach to Tackling Homelessness