СТАЛИЙ РОЗВИТОК СІЛЬСЬКИХ ТЕРИТОРІЙ ЧЕРКАЩИНИ

The article outlines the main directions and problems of sustainable development of rural areas of the Cherkasy region and identifies key ways to overcome them in the context of contemporary socio-economic, demographic and institutional challenges. Particular attention is paid to the system of public administration of rural development, which is currently characterized by insufficient coordination, limited financial capacity and fragmented regulatory support, and therefore requires a large-scale administrative reform directly tied to the requirements of the present, decentralization processes and European principles of territorial governance. The focus is placed on the specifics of rural development in the context of decentralization of power, revealing the role and place of local executive bodies and local self-government institutions in shaping development strategies, managing local resources and stimulating economic activity within rural communities. All these aspects necessitate in-depth research into the main contradictions of the institutional prerequisites for sustainable development of rural areas, particularly in terms of the distribution of powers, responsibility and access to development resources.The article pays significant attention to the development of rural areas that have non-agricultural types of business as one of the key conditions for preserving the rural population, reducing migration outflows and ensuring employment diversification. The importance of rural green tourism, hospitality services, small-scale manufacturing, crafts and service activities as drivers of local economic growth and social stability is substantiated.It is noted that in order to promote the spread and effective functioning of non-agricultural businesses in rural areas, it is necessary to create a comprehensive system of educational and advisory support in the form of specialized training programs on the basics of entrepreneurship, management, marketing and digital technologies. The scientific and educational basis for these studies in the region is provided by the Department of Tourism and Hotel and Restaurant Business of Uman National University, which plays an important role in human capital development and methodological support for local initiatives. As a result of the study, the main functions of rural areas that contribute to effective socio-economic development of villages and the formation of long-term sustainability have been identified.