Journal number 4 ∘ Anna Chechel ∘ Natalya RUDYK ∘
SUSTAINABLE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT IN UKRAINE: COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN POST-WAR RECOVERY

10.36172/EKONOMISTI.2024.XX.04.CHECHEL.RUDIK

Summary

Negative global trends currently affect every individual and the community in which they live. These problems need to be solved together within local communities. The globalisation of the world economy creates new patterns and changes the levels of responsibility for development at the local level. Due to the increase in population and individual consumption growth, the demand for the planet's resources has greatly increased. Society's modern way of life does not correspond to the principles of sustainable development, leading to the deterioration of human activity's social, economic, and ecological spheres. The concept of sustainable development, which ensures harmony between economic, social, and ecological aspects of development without disturbing the balance of interests of future generations, should be of central importance in the development programs of modern communities. Developing effective economic mechanisms to stimulate positive changes in the functioning of communities and promote the formation of a sustainable lifestyle is currently an urgent task.

In recent years, Ukraine has faced significant challenges due to the ongoing armed conflict in its eastern regions. This conflict has led to widespread destruction of infrastructure, economic instability, and social disorganisation in many territorial communities. The pressing need for post-war recovery in these areas highlights the importance of sustainable local development involving the community in decision-making and implementation processes.

Sustainable development is more than just rebuilding infrastructure; it involves creating long-term socio-economic stability and fostering resilient communities. The active participation of local residents in shaping and implementing recovery initiatives is crucial for ensuring that development efforts meet the population's needs and are sustainable in the long run. This approach helps restore social and economic balance, strengthens community ties, and reduces internal conflicts.

The research problem lies in the need to develop and implement effective models of sustainable local development with community participation in Ukraine, particularly in the context of post-war recovery. As a result of the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine, many territorial communities are facing the destruction of infrastructure, economic difficulties, and social disorganisation. Successful recovery and development of these regions require an integrated approach that considers local populations' involvement in planning and implementing initiatives to restore socio-economic stability and improve quality of life.

Keywords: sustainable development, local development, community, self-organisation, social technologies, model, social policy 

Literature review and analysis of the latest studies and publications. The issue of sustainable local development with community participation attracts the attention of researchers and practitioners worldwide. In recent decades, special attention has been paid to integrating socio-economic and environmental aspects to achieve sustainability at the local level (Brinkerhoff & Azfar, 2012). The development of territorial communities involves using approaches involving local residents in planning and decision-making processes, creating conditions for the population's active participation in forming socially significant programs and policies (Völker et al., 2010).

The Ukrainian local development experience emphasises the importance of community involvement in sustainable development processes through self-government and decentralisation. Research shows that strengthening interaction between local authorities and the population helps to stabilise the socio-economic situation and reduce conflicts at the local level (Gerasimenko, 2017). An important role is played by public organisations and initiative groups that, through self-organisation, introduce innovative approaches to solving local problems (Gritsak, 2018). In addition, the Ukrainian context includes features of the legislative framework that support such forms of self-organisation as public organisations and self-organisation bodies of the population (Orlovskaya, 2020). This contributes to more active population participation in local development processes and resource management.

Modern approaches to sustainable local development increasingly include elements of digitalisation and the use of social technologies. This, in turn, stimulates citizen engagement through public participation platforms, as noted by Fernback (2013), who studies social media's impact on forming a sense of belonging to a community. Technologies contribute to more active interaction within communities and help speed up decision-making and their implementation on the ground.

At the same time, social capital and trust between participants remain key factors for successful sustainable development. Ukrainian and Georgian studies show that sustainable growth is impossible without a high level of trust within the community and between the community and local authorities (Bondarenko, 2021). Therefore, the development of civil institutions and support for local initiatives are becoming priority tasks for ensuring sustainable local development.

Also, it is important to note that there are several approaches to understanding the term "community development" in the literature. According to the research of the authors of the book "Local Development Through Community Participation", this term can be viewed in two aspects: 1) as a strategy for solving local social problems; 2) as a principle of explaining the history of societies [1]. This aspect can be considered too limited, focused mainly on social issues, ignoring other local problems, and the second reflects a general philosophical nature and is quite abstract. The main goal is to create a favourable environment for achieving long-term sustainable socio-economic and social development locally by supporting local self-government initiatives and projects implemented by local communities and contributing to humanity's overall progress [2]. As a result of the complexity and multifaceted nature of this problem, some issues are not sufficiently developed in modern conditions

This research aims to study and analyse approaches to sustainable local development with community participation in Ukraine, focusing on post-war recovery. It seeks to identify effective social technologies and models of interaction between local authorities and civic initiatives that promote active community self-organisation, infrastructure restoration, and economic growth in post-conflict areas.

The main results of the study. Given the extensive damage caused by the conflict and the ongoing challenges of globalisation and economic restructuring, Ukraine needs an integrated approach to sustainable development that prioritises local engagement. The key to successful recovery lies in the community's ability to self-organize, collaborate with local authorities, and actively shape their future [3]. This research explores effective models of sustainable local development with community participation, focusing on the Ukrainian context, particularly in the post-war recovery phase. The experience of daily life of Ukrainian communities shows that the key factor for sustainable development is the active participation of citizens in the formation and implementation of local social policy. Uniting the community around solving the problem is the key to avoiding internal conflicts and contributes to their effective resolution.

A strategic approach to the planning of sustainable territorial development has advantages for all key participants in the process (government, enterprises, territorial communities), such as:

- increases the scientific and practical justification of socioeconomic and organisational measures, the effectiveness of management decisions;

- significantly expands the range of participants in the planning process, which includes their interests and needs;

- makes the planning process more accessible for all business entities, creating opportunities to achieve common goals through the pooling of resources of institutions of different ownership, which helps reduce the time it takes to achieve the program's goal;

- enables local authorities and self-government bodies to direct the community's efforts to solve current problems, actively influencing the stabilisation of the situation in the socio-economic and socio-political spheres;

- helps to use the potential of territories to accelerate economic changes and development of local communities.

The disadvantagesof the strategic approach to planning sustainable territorial development are systematised in Fig. 1.

Fig 1 Limitations of the strategic approach to planning sustainable territorial development

These shortcomings must be carefully considered when developing strategic plans to ensure sustainable territorial development.

A rather pragmatic approach to community development is used in research [3], which describes it through the following social aspects:

1) education and enlightenment at the community level;

2) community formation (in particular, joint actions);

3) management of community resources, in particular, to solve the problems of poverty and low productivity of agriculture.

These authors consider the self-organisation of the community as a means of introducing innovations into the society.

The advantages of such an approach are that communities can adapt quickly to new conditions and challenges since decisions are made at the local level without lengthy bureaucratic procedures. Local initiatives are often a source of innovation, as communities deeply understand their needs and can quickly test and implement new ideas. Working together to implement innovations strengthens community members' bonds, increasing social cohesion and trust. Communities are better aware of their resources and needs, which allows for more efficient allocation of resources and implementation of projects with minimal costs. Innovations originating from the community usually receive broad support among local residents, increasing their legitimacy and the chances of successful implementation. Since the community controls the decision-making process and implementation of projects, it contributes to the transparency of all processes.

The disadvantage of this approach is the limitation of financial resources and the general instability of financing, which limits the scope and speed of introducing innovations. The lack of qualified specialists can also limit the community's ability to implement complex projects successfully. Thus, community self-organisation as a means of introducing innovations is a powerful tool for local communities that allows them to actively influence their own development. At the same time, this approach has its limitations and needs support and coordination to overcome resource, organisational, and social challenges.

Such a view coincides with the opinion of those who emphasise the importance of appealing to the local community when solving social problems [4]. This applies both to the self-organisation and mobilisation of the community, as well as to the practice of the activities of local authorities and other factors of community development, which emphasises the permanent, sustainable nature of relevant social technologies for the development of the area. For example, it is proposed to highlight the following stages in the community development process: 1) community mobilisation; 2) formation of effective institutional management mechanisms at the local level (creating public structures and increasing their potential); 3) joint planning and prioritisation; 4) consolidation of collective decision-making mechanisms at the local and regional levels; 5) resource mobilisation and project implementation; 6) ensuring sustainability of results, i.e. transformation of innovations into usual social practice [1].

In this process, institutionalised practices of citizen participation in solving community problems play a significant role. Other Ukrainian scientists [5] proposed a different course of action for community development:

1)    creation of an organisation (which allows attracting the necessary resources to solve local problems and cooperate with other institutions);

2)    selection of competent leaders;

3)    collection of financial funds for the organisation's activities;

4)    identification of the main local problems that residents want to solve to improve their lives;

5)    assessment of opportunities in solving these problems, finding out their value and developing an action plan;

6)    attraction of resources for the implementation of defined priorities;

7)    preservation of the achieved result; 8) representation of interests in various authorities.

In both of the aforementioned algorithms, the basic element is creating a special organisation in the community, a formalised structure to represent the population's interests. According to the current legislation of Ukraine, the following mechanisms are provided for making decisions in matters of local development: local referenda, general assemblies of citizens, local initiatives, and public hearings. The rules of Ukraine also specify that formal organisations in the community can act as public or charitable organisations, bodies of self-organisation of the population (with a complex procedure for creation), associations of co-owners of apartment buildings (OCSB), and cooperatives. However, none of these forms of self-organisation can be considered ideal for effective community involvement in local development, as they do not provide a full-fledged toolkit for active community participation in local development.

The study [6] describes the process of community development, offering an alternative algorithm of actions: 1) assessment of the situation for changes; 2) study of interactions in the community; 3) drawing up a community passport; 4) planning; 5) collective actions; 6) strategic planning; 7) implementation of the strategic plan; 8) assessment of results.

In this algorithm, the main attention is paid to social planning from the bottom up, without appointing specific subjects in the community according to the "bottom-up" principle, the advantages of which can be summarised without specifying the subjects in the community: a deeper understanding of local needs; increasing the level of involvement and responsibility; flexibility and adaptability; efficiency and rationality in the use of resources; increasing the legitimacy of decisions; stimulation of social innovations; sustainability and self-sufficiency; social justice and inclusiveness; increasing social stability.

These advantages emphasise the importance of a "bottom-up" approach to social planning, which allows communities to actively participate in their development, effectively use available resources, and consider real needs and opportunities.

Community development can occur with the population's participation, initiated from below and above. Inclusion of the community in collective actions and joint decision-making can be carried out through a directive or non-directive method [7]. Directive methods mean that decisions are made by leaders, while non-directive methods are appropriate when residents identify problems, make decisions, and implement them themselves. In the latter case, the community is activated, giving it more power and contributing to the distribution of resources and benefits in society.

We suggest that in Ukraine, we support an approach to developing territorial communities where community members are considered partners of local self-government bodies and not just recipients of services. The main initiator and subject of development should be the community itself, not power structures or officials. Creating community development centres and training specialists - consultants to improve the partnership between the population and self-governing bodies to inform residents about their rights and opportunities for solving local issues is necessary.

In foreign practice, such forms of community organisations as development funds, charitable organisations, and social entrepreneurship [6], as well as implementing investment projects, are also widely used.

According to the statements of the American researcher D. Rothman, during the development of the local community, four strategies of interaction with its members can be defined: 1) meetings in private homes, evening gatherings of interested persons; 2) creation of organisational ties (for example, creation of clubs); 3) coalition model focused on mobilisation and information campaigns; 4) the model of social networks (based on religious traditions) [8].

This approach focuses on informal community structures and explains the connection between community development and civil society based on the understanding that informal institutions, connections and networks play a key role in building social capital, strengthening social cohesion and promoting sustainable community development. The approach shows that community development is not limited to formal institutions but also includes a wide range of social connections and networks that can drive change and progress. This approach promotes more inclusive, flexible and sustainable development that reflects the real needs and potential of the community.

The development of the local community, in particular its self-organisation, responds to global challenges and is a resource for citizens' transformational efforts. This development allows representatives of vulnerable groups to take an active part in solving their problems and express their own views [12].

Fernback J. emphasises the importance of social media in building a sense of belonging to the community and stimulating collective efforts [9].

Social media play a key role in building a sense of belonging to the community and stimulating collective efforts, providing a space for communication, sharing information and organising joint actions. They are a powerful tool in building a sense of belonging to the community and stimulating collective efforts towards sustainable local development. Social media provide a space for communication, information exchange, organising joint actions and supporting civic activism. This contributes to the strengthening of social capital, the development of inclusiveness and sustainability of the community, making it more cohesive and ready for the challenges of the modern world.

Brinkerhoff D. and O. Azfar emphasise the importance of 1) access to information and communication culture in the community; 2) participation in forums and debates related to common problems, local budget and policy issues; 3) stimulation of local authorities to make decisions in the interests of the community; 4) availability of resources for community members to express their interests [10].

If we consider the development of the territorial community in the context of civil society, it becomes obvious that the need for social incentives and the institutionalisation of mechanisms to protect group interests create the conditions for their implementation [13].

In this sense, civil society is a key factor contributing to the effective management of the territory and increasing citizens' participation in public life, strengthening social cohesion, and implementing joint initiatives.

Sustainable local development in the context of civil society is a key factor in creating effective, inclusive and sustainable local governance. Civil society ensures the active participation of citizens in decision-making processes, forms social capital, supports initiatives from below, increases transparency and accountability of authorities, promotes social cohesion and inclusiveness, and also supports sustainable development and self-sufficiency of the community. This creates the conditions for building a community where each member can influence the future of his community.

According to Völker B. et al., four key conditions for community development and strengthening are 1) organisational opportunities for meetings; 2) people's motivations for investing in mutual relations (which depends on economic and social status, education and lifestyle); 3) achievement of individual goals; 4) interaction [11].

Strategies and approaches to community development should consider both technical (infrastructure, resources, communication) and social (motivation and interaction between community members and authorities) aspects [14].

These concepts confirm the importance of social capital as the basis of successful community development and emphasise the low level of social trust in Ukrainian society.

Conclusions. The article explores various approaches to territorial community development, especially in the context of post-conflict recovery and sustainable development. This development can occur through self-organisation or a directive approach, either from the bottom up or vice versa. Regarding formalisation, community development can include the creation of representative bodies, community development funds, cooperatives, public and charitable organisations, and social enterprises. On the other hand, informal structures such as initiative groups or protest movements can also contribute to community development.

Normalising relations at the level of local politics is important for the successful development of the community in Ukraine. This includes revising the powers of self-governing bodies, delegating rights to community organisations, and ensuring public control, including administrative decentralisation. In addition, it is important to increase the accessibility of government representatives to community members, which will help increase the level of social trust and promote collective action for implementing local initiatives.

Involving residents in decision-making and project implementation is crucial for the success of recovery efforts. This approach ensures quick adaptation to new conditions, fosters innovation, enhances social cohesion, and increases the legitimacy of decisions. Despite the benefits, community self-organisation approaches face financial constraints, a lack of qualified specialists, and general funding instability. Overcoming these challenges requires additional support and coordination. Social capital, including informal connections and social networks, is a vital resource for community development. Effective models include formal organisations and informal networks, supporting social cohesion and community engagement. Successful community development requires clearly defined stages such as mobilisation, creation of effective institutional mechanisms, joint planning, and project implementation. Integrating social technologies and stimulating participation at all levels is necessary for sustainable development. Social media play a significant role in building a sense of community, organising joint actions, and supporting civic activism. Access to information and participation in discussions contribute to increased transparency and accountability of local authorities.

In conclusion, for effective territorial community development in Ukraine, there is a need to collaboratively work on creating conditions for active citizen participation in recovery and development processes. This includes supporting self-organisation, developing social capital, utilising social media, and ensuring access to information. Integrating these approaches will help build resilient and self-sufficient communities that are prepared to meet the challenges of the modern world. 

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The article "Sustainable Local Development in Ukraine: Community Participation in Post-War Recovery" delves into the critical challenges and opportunities associated with fostering sustainable development in Ukrainian territorial communities during the post-war recovery period. The authors argue that integrating economic, social, and environmental dimensions is essential to achieving a balance between meeting current needs and safeguarding the interests of future generations. This comprehensive approach is seen as pivotal for addressing the widespread destruction of infrastructure, economic instability, and social disorganisation caused by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine’s eastern regions.

The study underscores the importance of actively involving local populations in decision-making and implementation processes to ensure that recovery efforts align with the actual needs of communities and promote long-term sustainability. The authors explore effective models of cooperation between local self-governance bodies and civic initiatives, focusing on the role of community self-organisation in resolving local challenges. Modern social technologies, including digital tools and platforms, are highlighted as powerful enablers of citizen engagement, fostering transparency, social cohesion, and innovation. Social media, in particular, is identified as a critical tool for strengthening a sense of community and organising collective actions.

The article also provides an in-depth analysis of the strategic approach to territorial development planning, identifying its key advantages, such as enhanced stakeholder participation, optimised resource allocation, and the promotion of trust between communities and authorities. However, the authors do not shy away from discussing the challenges, including the uncertainty of future conditions, the complexity of coordination, and limited financial and human resources. These barriers are seen as hurdles that must be addressed to realise the full potential of sustainable development initiatives.

The authors advocate for a systemic approach that supports self-governance, mobilises local resources, and ensures the inclusion of vulnerable groups in development processes. Specific recommendations include creating community development centres, training specialists to bridge gaps between citizens and authorities, and promoting participatory governance. The article emphasises the significance of social capital, informal networks, and grassroots innovation in driving sustainable local development.

In conclusion, the study highlights the necessity of collaborative efforts to build resilient and self-sufficient communities. Ukrainian communities can effectively navigate the complexities of post-war recovery and sustainable development by integrating social technologies, fostering active citizen participation, and addressing systemic challenges. This approach not only prepares communities to face modern challenges but also lays the groundwork for long-term socio-economic progress and stability.

Keywords: sustainable development, local community, post-war recovery, social cohesion, self-organisation, civic engagement, social capital, participatory governance, Ukraine

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