Стратегія розвитку українських громад в поствоєнний період

As a result of the decentralization reform launched in 2014, Ukrainian communities have been given additional powers and the ability to solve local problems using their own resources. The positive effects of the reform became apparent in the first years of its implementation. Russia’s military aggression, which caused serious damage to Ukraine, also triggered a number of significant changes in the local government sector. These include an increase in the effectiveness of interaction between the state authorities and the leadership of TCs. This resulted in the establishment of an effective mechanism of economic support for the army, the relocation of some enterprises from the areas where hostilities are taking place, and the evacuation of civilians. The authors provides evidence in favour of building a rigid centralized vertical of power, and, on the other hand, argues for the need to preserve the real independence of TCs in managing economic potential and human resources for their effective use. The experience gained by Ukrainian communities during the war demonstrates the advantage of self-organization of the population over centralized management. The principles that laid the foundation for decentralization in Ukraine should not only be preserved, but also developed further in the current war conditions. The authors argue that the post-war strategy for community development in Ukraine should focus on strengthening financial independence by expanding local taxation rights and access to credit from both state and commercial banks. The state should also create a targeted program to finance integrated community development projects, covering infrastructure, social and environmental initiatives. In addition, it is important to support small and medium-sized businesses through tax incentives, simplified registration and reporting, as well as grants and soft loans. It is also necessary to strengthen public participation in decision-making on post war reconstruction through the creation of advisory bodies, surveys and general meetings of residents. And it is extremely important to introduce a system of continuous training and professional development for local government personnel. The prospect of further research on this topic is a detailed consideration of the post-war development strategy on the example of individual regions and communities. In addition, this research paper can serve as a starting point for assessing the performance of local authorities before and after the decentralization reform.