Participatory democracy as a mechanism for achieving local development in Algeria – A case study of the Capdel program.

Abstract

This study addresses the topic of participatory democracy and its role in achieving local development within the Capdel program. Local communities, especially municipalities, are the fundamental units in decentralized organization and serve as the starting point for local development. They are the closest link to local citizens, acting as a public facility for practicing local democracy. Given the challenges faced by most national municipalities, it has become essential for new actors, represented by citizens as the main axis in the formulation of developmental decisions, and civil society organizations, to intervene as a new mechanism to promote the developmental path. Additionally, the Algerian government’s initiative in collaboration with the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), known as the Capdel program, aims to support the capacities of actors in local development.