Civil Society Institutions in the Formation and Implementation of Local Policy

The article explores the role of civil society institutions in shaping local policy in the context of public governance transformation in Ukraine. The relevance of the topic stems from the growing public demand for transparency, openness, and accountability of local self-government, especially in the context of decentralization, Ukraine’s European integration course, and state recovery during martial law. The formation of a strong civil society is recognized as a necessary precondition for the development of effective and inclusive local policies, while the interaction between civil society institutions and authorities is viewed as an important indicator of democratic maturity. The aim of the study is to analyze the role of civil society institutions in the formation of local policy in Ukraine, using the example of a specific community, to identify existing mechanisms of civic engagement, and to outline the prospects for their further development in the context of democratic transformation. The research methodology includes general scientific and specialized methods: analysis of the regulatory and legal framework, logical and semantic analysis of key concepts, and the case study method – based on the example of the Chernivtsi urban territorial community. Empirical sources such as official digital platforms, the Civil Society Organization (CSO) Sustainability Index, and public analytics were also utilized. The findings show that institutional forms of citizen participation in local policy are gradually becoming established in Ukraine. These include public councils, participatory budgets, local initiatives, public consultations, electronic petitions, youth councils, and local media. Special attention is paid to the experience of the city of Chernivtsi, where a range of e-governance platforms has been introduced, structured youth dialogue has been launched, and mechanisms for transparent budgeting are being developed. At the same time, several barriers remain – in particular, unequal levels of citizen engagement, limited financial sustainability of civil society organizations, and insufficient institutional support from local authorities. The practical value of the article lies in the generalization of relevant mechanisms for involving civil society institutions in the formation of local policy. The results can be used to develop municipal strategies, regulations on public consultations, enhance the institutional capacity of CSOs, and implement partnership-based models of local governance.