Restoration of Public Services in De-Occupied Communities of Ukraine

The European Charter of Local Self-Government defines that local self-government is the right and ability to manage a certain share of public affairs, under their own responsibility, in the interests of the local population. Provision of public services to residents of communities is one of the powers of local self-government bodies provided for by decentralization.

In Ukrainian legislation, a capable territorial community is one that is able to provide the appropriate level of public services, in particular in the field of education, culture, etc., taking into account different resources.

After the full-scale invasion and in the conditions of the ongoing war, the territorial communities of Ukraine faced certain difficulties in providing public services. This is due to the destroyed infrastructure, lack of personnel, availability of services.

Based on empirical data, the following main tendency can be identified:

1) the demand for social services has increased. This is due to the fact that a significant proportion of residents of de-occupied communities are socially vulnerable;

2) the system of providing administrative services was overloaded. After the de-occupation, communities adjusted the provision of administrative services in different ways. Decentralization contributed to the expansion of the network of administrative service centers, and residents of de-occupied communities have access to administrative services;

3) cooperation of communities contributes to the provision of public services in conditions of limited resources. For example, joint financing of geriatric facilities, financing for maintenance of primary medical care;

4) cooperation of territorial communities with NGO. Decentralization facilitated the opportunity to join forces with organizations. This is especially observed in the social and medical spheres.