Decentralisation of state governing and strengthening of local self-government are essential conditions for transition to democracy.

Foundation of Local Self-Government of Ukraine was created under the decree of the President of Ukraine of April 17, 1992 especially to this end.

According to the decrees of the President of Ukraine of December 19. 1995 and of May 5, 1996 the Status of the Foundation was reconsidered and now it is a central scientific-methodical, consultative and co-ordinating institution under the President of Ukraine.

Foundation:

- represents an experience of democratic decentralised approval of decisions on national and regional levels;

- possesses the best experts in the field of law, economy, finances, politology and other aspects of local
self-government development;

- promotes a development of local initiative, in other words, transition of our state to the country with effective, socially oriented economy.

Foundation acknowledges
the principals of European Charter of Local Self-Government and promotes their implementation in Ukraine .

Foundation is a cofounder of a national magazine "Local Self-Government” and
a founder of a magazine of Ukrainian cities "Mediapolis".

The main assignments of the Foundation are:

 participating in implementation of a municipal reform in Ukraine ;

 elaborating programmes of state support for local self-government development, elaborating drafts of basic legislative acts;

 rendering scientific, methodical and consultative assistance in strengthening and development of local self-government;

 co-ordination of activities of home associations and other institutions, which activity aims at development of local self-government;

 rendering assistance to local self-government bodies in development of democratic forms and methods of their work;

 working out proposals and recommendations as to local self-government development basing on home and international experience.

According to its tasks Foundation:

- elaborates drafts of laws, decrees of the President of Ukraine, statements of the Cabinet of Ministers and makes an expertise of such drafts;

- promotes [he development and perfection of information provision for local self-government bodies, as well as for executive bodies;

- collects in separate account finances for programmes approved by Ukrainian Government for financial support of local self-government in Ukraine ;

- unites finances of local self-government bodies, central and local bodies of state executive authority and other institutions for holding national and regional events or issues of local self-government development;

- participates in activity of Ukrainian and international institutions, which deal with local self-government issues;

3 together with local self-government bodies, their associations, other institutions creates on treaty basis branches, representatives, as well as enterprises and establishments, which activity corresponds to the aims and assignments of the Foundation;

- participates in work of scientific establishments, centres of training and retraining of state officers and local self-government employees:

- exchanges information within scientists and practical employees of corresponding organisations and establishments abroad;

- conducts conferences, seminars, “round-tables", cycles or lectures and other events in Ukraine and abroad;

- constitutes agreements on co-operation with foreign government and
non-government institutions, local authorities on issues of local self-government development.

Foundation co-ordinates programmes or international co-operation on issues of local self-government exercised by the Council or Europe , international organisations, foreign and home institutions.

Under Foundation is:

the school of municipal management;

Municipal Consulting Centre and the Laboratory of electoral technologies

.

We welcome your co-operation!