Digital technologies in public administration as a driver of sustainability of strategic development of regions

Background. In the context of the global transformation of the world order, the issue of the increasing fragmentation of international relations, and the need to ensure regional sustainability, the digital transformation of public and municipal governance is acquiring strategic importance. In the theoretical part of the study, the author analyzes the relationship between digital technologies and the sustainable development of Russian regions. Based on a synthesis of theoretical approaches and empirical data, a study was conducted to examine the impact of government digital maturity on the achievement of sustainable development goals in four areas: economic, social, environmental, and governance. The study showed the nonlinear nature of the relationship between digital maturity and sustainable development, as well as regional differentiation in the use of digital tools, was identified. Key conclusions were drawn regarding the prospects for the development of digitalization in public administration as an indicator of the level of regional sustainability. Purpose. The purpose of the research is to identify the mechanisms by which digital technologies influence the sustainable development of regions and to develop management recommendations for their effective integration into strategic processes of state and municipal governance. Materials and methods. The methodological basis of this study includes a synthesis of theoretical approaches and a structural and functional analysis of public administration digitalization processes in the context of strategic development. A systems approach, document analysis, and comparative analysis of regional cases were also used to achieve the stated goals and formulate substantiated conclusions. Results. The study identified key barriers to the effective integration of digital technologies into sustainable development management processes: a shortage of qualified personnel, fragmented digital solutions, and limited access to digital infrastructure. Digitalization mechanisms were developed for fostering regional resilience, and challenges and prospects for strategic sustainable regional development, taking into account the implementation of digital technologies, were identified. The results can be used by federal and regional executive authorities to align socioeconomic development strategies with digital transformation strategies, as well as to develop program‑based methods for managing regional sustainable development. Prospects for further research include analyzing digitalization ratings of Russian regions, developing new integrated digital platforms for monitoring and verifying regional ESG indicators and sustainable development indicators, establishing regional competence centers for digital transformation of sustainable development, and studying barriers and drivers for developing digital literacy in the context of sustainable development to more accurately assess the level of digitalization and regional resilience.