Abstract
The role of Parliamentary Budget Offices (PBOs) in supporting parliaments by enhancing participatory budgeting, is the key focus of this article. Participatory budgeting is recognised as a tool for empowering the public to actively participate in the fiscal and budgetary process. Parliaments are increasingly strengthening their capacities to exercise oversight over the public finance management process. PBOs are being established to empower parliaments to strengthen the budgetary oversight process. The South African Parliamentary Budget Office (SAPBO) provides the necessary technical support to Parliament regarding the budget process. A critical challenge is to obtain the involvement of the broader public in the budgetary process. While space for public participation has been established by the legislature, broader public involvement in budgeting should be enhanced. The article found that the SAPBO is well placed to ensure meaningful public engagement and build public capacity in support of participatory budgeting. In addressing the SAPBO mandate, access to information and engaging in budgetary capacity building should be a core function. Through communication with the public and soliciting their inputs, the SAPBO can play a key role in enhancing participatory budgeting.