Digitalization of Regional Governance: Improving the Toolkit and Transformation of Public Administration

Abstract

The article substantiates the role of digitalization in forming an effective model of multi-level digital governance capable of ensuring transparency, accessibility of public services, improved quality of management decisions, and integration of digital solutions, which is particularly crucial during the period of war and post-war recovery. The study analyzes challenges in the functioning of digital infrastructure and the dissemination of digital competencies that hinder the digitalization process of public management and administration in Ukraine. Proposals are presented to improve the e-governance system at the national, regional, and local levels, which is relevant in the context of deepening European integration processes and the need to adapt successful European practices in Ukraine. The directions and tools for e-governance development in Ukraine are identified, including digital infrastructure development, building digital competencies among the population and civil servants, increasing the transparency of government activities, improving the quality of public service delivery, implementing regional management digitalization programs, and attracting international technical assistance. Key constraining factors for e-governance development are identified, such as institutional limitations; insufficient digital infrastructure development in certain territories; a shortage of digital transformation specialists; and the need for further harmonization of national legislation with European standards in the fields of data protection, electronic identification, and cybersecurity. It is argued that a significant challenge for further e-governance development remains the implementation of regional digitalization programs, which currently often have a project-based nature and require a long-term strategic vision for e-governance development prospects.