Back to Participation: The Pathway to Inclusive Urban Innovation in Porto Alegre.

This study interrogates the locus of innovation in urban planning within Porto Alegre, a city globally recognized for its pioneering participatory budgeting. It posits that recentering public participation constitutes a pivotal innovation in formulating policies that genuinely cater to citizen needs. This hypothesis is grounded in the assertion that reviving participatory mechanisms, for which Porto Alegre is renowned worldwide, serves as a critical pathway to achieving social innovation success. Employing a qualitative methodology, this research synthesizes data from participant observation, document analysis, and interviews to explore the dynamics of public engagement in urban planning processes. The inquiry aims to elucidate how such participatory approaches can redefine the landscape of public policy, ensuring that innovation benefits all city dwellers. By examining the reintegration of public participation in urban governance, this paper seeks to contribute to the discourse on social innovation, positing that inclusivity in policy formulation enhances the efficacy and relevance of public policies in addressing contemporary urban challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]