The report emphasizes the role of the human factor, its knowledge and skills to ensure effective and efficient implementation of the integrated approach in regional development and achieving sustainability. The adoption of a new planning approach comes in response to the impossibility of tackling key issues in achieving cohesion between the regions in the European Union (EU) with traditional instruments. The aim of the article is to outline a conceptual competency model, with key knowledge and

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... kills, of planning experts and their role in the implementation of integrated public policies. The subject of research is the knowledge and skills for regional development planning in the context of integrated territorial investments, and the object is the administrative structure in Bulgaria, responsible for the implementation of this approach -the regional development councils. The commitment of regional development councils to the process of financing and implementation of strategic documents based on the integrated territorial investment approach inevitably requires the expertise and organization of work in order to effectively implement the approach and achieve appropriate and sustainable regional development. The article includes a review of the scientific literature regarding organizational and administrative aspects for the implementation of integrated territorial investments for development in the EU and in Bulgaria and the requirements for the competencies of institutions to ensure the integration of planning documents and practices at different hierarchical levels. The results of an empirical study of the capacity for planning and implementation of regional development policies in Bulgaria are presented, critically analyzing the existing practices, approaches and accumulated expertise regarding the implementation of the fundamentally new for the public sector in Bulgaria integrated planning approach. The necessary competencies of the planner are outlined through the tools of the competence approach, with special attention paid to IT competencies. On this basis, recommendations are made for capacity building in specific areas, which are largely essential for the effective management of regional development at the administrative and operational level.