Decentralization in Ukraine is an example of devolution by central government of powers and financial resources down to local authorities, thereby allowing to achieve the effectiveness of local government and quality of governance in the regions. This was stated by Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman during an opening ceremony for the USAID-funded program Decentralization Offering Better Results and Efficiency (DOBRE) on Tuesday.

"What has happened in these few years can be a good example of how the state delegates authority that you can use to work on those who elect you, to do your work efficiently and most importantly to create a system of high quality services at the local level", said Volodymyr Groysman, speaking about the results of the decentralization reform.

During the years of implementation of the reform necessary powers and resources have been transferred within the framework of financial decentralization, said the Prime Minister.

Thus, the local budgets compared to last year have increased by UAH 34 billion UAH, which is about 50%.

For the second consecutive year in Ukraine there have been applied other tools to encourage regional development: resource of the State Regional Development Fund, subsidy for economic and social development and subvention for the support of united territorial communities worth UAH 1 billion. The Government plans to enhance the latter up to UAH 1.5 billion next year, he said.

"The Government transfers the most of financial resources down [to local communities] and does it openly, publicly and systematically", said Volodymyr Groysman.

By now in Ukraine there have been created 184 united territorial communities, in another 184 the elections are due on December 11 and 18. "This is just the beginning, but this process is irreversible", noted the Prime Minister.

Volodymyr Groysman stressed that he had initiated the decentralization process as Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine, Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Utilities and then Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Under his patronage on April 1, 2014 there was adopted first strategic document developed jointly with experts - a concept of local governance reform in Ukraine, which was the beginning of the decentralization reform. Another document developed and adopted was the Law of Ukraine On Voluntary Association of Territorial Communities.

"At last we’ve got the result, the result that confirms that an effective system of local government will make the success of our country inevitable", said Volodymyr Groysman.

In this regard, the Head of Government thanked for the support in implementation of the decentralization reform the international partners, namely the European Union, Switzerland, Germany and the United States of America. The USAID-funded program Decentralization Offering Better Results and Efficiency (DOBRE) aimed at support for the consolidated communities will operate for 5 years in Ukraine, he said.

"This means that we are not the only ones who know and understand the importance of this reform, but our international partners, who have built real local self-government in their countries, know that Ukraine is following the right way. On this way we will succeed. But this success requires leadership", summed up the Prime Minister.