The dissertation solves the task in the scientific field of public administration, substantiates the theoretical and legal principles for ensuring the capacity of local communities, proposes a comprehensive approach to capacity, based on the principles of its mechanisms, developed a classification of types of capacity, defined methodological principles of capacity assessment the system of capacity-building mechanisms has been improved and practical recommendations for their application have been formed.
The analysis and generalization of the provisions of the legislation of Ukraine, the work of domestic and foreign scientists in the field of research of the institute of capacity of territorial communities in order to determine the state of development of this issue. The legislation of Ukraine gives the following definition of "territorial community": a set of residents united by permanent residence within a village, town, city, which are independent administrative-territorial units, or a voluntary association of residents of several villages with a single administrative center.
The concept of capacity of the territorial community in the legislation is interpreted as the ability of only local governments to provide all necessary services to the population, in particular in education, culture, health, social protection, housing and communal services, which does not fully reflect the concept of capacity, given the mutual responsibility for the development of territorial communities by local governments and the residents themselves. It is proposed to define the capacity of the territorial community as a state of realization of the ability to ensure the development of the territorial community and to address issues of local importance - and local governments and residents of territorial communities.
The essential characteristics and content of the concepts “territorial community”, “capacity of the territorial community”, “mechanism for ensuring the capacity of the territorial community” are specified. Territorial community - residents united by permanent residence within a village, settlement, city, which are independent administrative-territorial units, or a voluntary association of residents of several villages, settlements, cities, which have a single administrative center. The capacity of a territorial community is the state of realization of the ability of local self-government bodies and residents of a territorial community to ensure the development of a territorial community and to resolve issues of local significance provided by law. Capacity assurance mechanism - a set of financial, material, institutional (organizational) and legal means of practical implementation of the functions of the territorial community and ensuring its viability and development.
The European experience of decentralization and formation of capable territorial communities is generalized for the purpose of preparation of scientific and practical recommendations to public authorities and local self-government bodies on adaptation of the best practices in the domestic legislation:
