FOREIGN EXPERIENCE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN THE CONDITIONS OF DECENTRALIZATION OF POWER

Abstract

The article examines foreign experience in community development in terms of identifying best practices andpotential opportunities for their adaptation to the Ukrainian context. General directions for increasing the efficiency of territorial development in foreign countries are identified. A comparative analysis of foreign countries is carried out in terms of stimulating the socio-economic development of regions in the context of financial decentralization.It is revealed that in European countries the principles of minor government intervention in the activities of local government bodies, clear delineation of the boundaries of local government functions from other spheresof management dominate. In the context of successful decentralization, the experience of France in the field of regional development is useful for Ukraine, and the difference between French and Ukrainian reforms is also noted.The emphasis is on a more active application of public-private partnership mechanisms and the establishment of a regional development agency is proposed. For Ukraine, the new policy should be aimed at a harmoniouscombination of European approaches and its own strategy, adequate to the challenges of today. The focus is on the example of the successful development of communities in Poland in terms of creating mechanisms for financial support for the development of local communities and ensuring their independence. The specifics of the organization of the territorial structure of Germany, budgetary decentralization; the economic development of communities inCanada and the creation of their development corporations are emphasized. The key characteristics of the systemof local budgets in European countries are identified, as well as the widespread use of participatory budgeting. Theexistence of several established approaches to the provision of social services is substantiated. Foreign experiencehighlights the need to increase the potential of communities by creating partnerships; developing the social and labor sphere; strengthening intermunicipal cooperation, etc. Positive examples of socio-economic developmentat the local level demonstrate the importance of an integrated approach, which includes strategic planning andinfrastructure development, supporting entrepreneurship, attracting investments, and the effective use of localresources.