SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS IMPLEMENTATION AT THE HISTORICAL SETTLEMENT LEVEL IN RIVNE REGION: FRAMING THE ISSUE

Abstract

The article examines the level of integration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the strategic documents of local communities in the Rivne region that include historical settlements. The relevance of the study is determined by the need to combine sustainable development objectives with the priorities of cultural heritage preservation and community resilience under wartime conditions. The purpose is to identify the nature and depth of SDG reflection in local development strategies and to classify communities according to their level of integration of global targets. The methodological framework includes content analysis of strategic documents, a comparative approach, index-based evaluation, and qualitative-quantitative ranking of strategies across four levels of integration. The results show uneven inclusion of the SDGs into local policies: only a few communities (Dubno, Klevan, Radyvyliv) demonstrate approximation to international practices, while most strategies remain declarative and lack clear indicators. At the same time, the potential for improving strategic planning has been identified through the development of indicator-based models, strengthening the professional capacity of local authorities, and enhancing the involvement of civil society. The conclusions highlight the need for systematic localisation of the SDGs in the development strategies of historical settlements in the Rivne region, taking into account current security challenges and the tasks of post-war recovery. Furthermore, the integration of the SDGs can serve as an instrument for attracting investment, fostering tourism, and strengthening international partnerships in the region. The proposed analytical model may be used as a guideline for updating community strategic documents and for building an effective system of monitoring sustainable development progress. Future research should focus on a comparative analysis of SDG integration across different Ukrainian regions to identify best practices and generate standard recommendations for local authorities. Special attention should also be given to the role of digital technologies in enhancing the efficiency of monitoring and ensuring the transparency of strategic planning. In addition, the adaptation of international experience to Ukrainian realities will be essential for increasing regional resilience and competitiveness.