Distrust and fears about decentralisation disappear where local leaders begin to effectively use all the opportunities provided by the reform: attract resources, invest in hromada development and take responsibility for their decisions and actions, commented Vyacheslav Nehoda, First Deputy Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Communal Services, on the results of sociological study carried out by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) and Social Indicators Centre, at the request of the Council of Europe Programme “Decentralisation and Territorial Consolidation in Ukraine”.

According to the research, 79% of people in the country are aware of the reform of local self-government and the administrative-territorial structure – decentralisation, and 58% - support it.

“The study showed, in particular, how the opinion of the rural population about the reform changes before and after the villages amalgamated into one hromada. 62% of the residents of non-amalgamated villages support the reform only if their village becomes the AH centre. And in villages which have already joined the AH and have not become its centre, this support is unconditional and makes up 60-62%. Therefore, we see that fears and distrust of people dispell after amalgamation,” said Vyacheslav Nehoda.

In his opinion, it is natural, because there are changes taking place in the amalgamated hromadas that the residents cannot fail to notice. Roads, sidewalks, kindergartens, schools, hospitals, sports grounds are being repaired there, street lighting is being installed, and water pipes laid. “There, people begin to realise that location of the AH centre is not so important for them, as the quality of life in their village is changing for the better, and services become more accessible,” said Vyacheslav Nehoda.

He also emphasised that urban residents, who used to hardly support hromadas’ amalgamation before (63% were against in 2015), are now mostly in favour of establishing a single AH with the neighbouring villages (50% in favour in 2017).

“Experience shows that amalgamation of cities with neighbouring rural hromadas is advantageous for all. The city has territories for development, villages receive support from the city. City residents began to realise the benefits of amalgamation. And now the main thing is to enable all major cities to use this mechanism – adopt the draft law on accession of hromadas to the cities of oblast significance,” said the First Deputy Minister.

The research shows that the earlier the hromada has taken advantage of the opportunities that appear in the course of decentralisation, the more benefits and achievements are seen and noted by the residents. “Thus, those who are still slow, loses not only time, but also support of people,” summed up Vyacheslav Nehoda

Results of the All-Ukrainian Sociological Study “Decentralisation and Local Self-Government Reform” CAN BE DOWNLOADED IN UKRAINIAN ENGLISH

Results of the All-Ukrainian Sociological Study “Decentralisation and Local Self-Government Reform”: socio-political sentiments of the residents of hromadas amalgamated in 2015-16” CAN BE DOWNLOADED IN UKRAINIAN ENGLISH