Theoretical foundations of international technical assistance in the context of government-civil society interaction

This article explores the theoretical foundations of international technical assistance (ITA) in the context of interaction between public authorities and civil society institutions amid Ukraine’s European integration and post-war recovery. It traces the evolution of the ITA concept from the paternalistic “donor-recipient” model to the modern partnership-for-development paradigm. The article analyzes the transformation of civil society organizations (CSOs) from peripheral actors into full-fledged agents of change within the ITA system. Conceptual models of CSO participation are systematized, including hierarchical, networked, hybrid, and adaptive models. Theoretical foundations for state-civil society interaction are justified through the lens of governance theories, collaborative management, public service co-production, and social capital. A comparative analysis is conducted on European, Anglo-Saxon, Scandinavian, and Eastern European models of CSO involvement in ITA. The author proposes an original theoretical model of CSO participation in Ukraine’s ITA system based on principles of network governance, adaptive systems, and multilevel coordination. The model incorporates a coordination core, sectoral platforms, regional hubs, and digital infrastructure. The article outlines conditions for the model’s implementation and identifies performance indicators at the impact, outcome, and process levels.