درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

Purpose- Access to safe and clean water remains a critical global concern, especially in rural areas of developing countries where infrastructural and institutional limitations are prevalent. In Tanzania, particularly in the Simiyu Region, water insecurity is further compounded by limited community participation in the planning stages of rural water projects. While participatory approaches are widely advocated to improve sustainability and responsiveness of such initiatives, there remains limited empirical evidence on the socio-economic and institutional factors influencing household-level participation. The main purpose of this research is to analyze the determinants of community participation in rural water project planning in Simiyu region, Tanzania by employing a Logit Model Approach. Design/Methods/Approach- This study addresses this gap by analyzing the determinants of community involvement using a logit regression model, drawing from data collected through a cross-sectional survey of 217 respondents. The sample was derived using Yamane’s (1967) formula, and a mixed sampling technique was applied to ensure representativeness across demographic and socio-economic groups. Structured questionnaires were employed for data collection, and the resulting data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression methods. Findings- The results revealed that several variables significantly influence participation. These include age (marginal effect = 0.116, p < 0.05), gender (0.098, p < 0.05), occupation—particularly among those engaged in livestock keeping (0.161, p < 0.05) and small businesses (0.177, p < 0.05)-as well as income level. Additionally, community awareness (0.247, p < 0.05) and prior experience with development initiatives (0.175, p < 0.05) were strong positive predictors. Cultural norms were found to influence gendered participation, with male respondents more likely to be involved in decision-making processes. Practical implications- These findings emphasize the importance of integrating gender-sensitive and participatory planning approaches to ensure alignment with local needs and to promote sustainability. Original/Value- The study recommends targeted policy interventions including community capacity-building, equitable policy frameworks, and strengthened local governance mechanisms to foster inclusive participation. Institutionalizing participatory approaches and promoting gender equity will be crucial in enhancing community ownership, improving project outcomes, and ensuring long-term water security in rural Tanzania.

Purpose- Existing literature shows that women, especially rural women, play a prominent role in the development of small and medium-sized businesses; however, few studies have explored factors affecting the perceptions and entrepreneurial tendencies of rural women in developing countries, especially in Iran. The present study was conducted to investigate the determinants of entrepreneurial tendencies of rural women, who are members of microcredit funds, in western Iran (Kermanshah province).Design/methodology/approach- This is an applied study of a correlational-descriptive nature with a quantitative approach that uses a survey method for data collection. The study population consists of all female members of microcredit funds in Kermanshah city (n = 626 people). Using Bartlett et al.'s table, 201 people were chosen as the research sample using a stratified random sampling method. They were selected by proportional assignment. The main data collection instrument was a questionnaire whose validity and reliability were confirmed using content validity, convergent validity, combined reliability and Cronbach's alpha. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS and Smart PLS software.Findings- According to the results, the latent variables of social capital, recognition of opportunities and entrepreneurial skills had a positive and significant effect on the entrepreneurial tendency of rural women who are members of the microcredit fund; however, the positive and significant effect of entrepreneurial education on the entrepreneurial tendency of rural women was not confirmed. In addition, the findings showed that social capital has a positive and significant effect on entrepreneurial tendency through opportunity recognition.Originality/value- The findings of this research have theoretical and practical implications for the development of entrepreneurship among rural women. That is while enriching literature on the subject, it helps policy makers focus on communication and social interactions, strengthen entrepreneurial skills and introduce entrepreneurial opportunities to develop entrepreneurship among rural women.

Purpose- Coastal regions are some of the most popular tourism destinations worldwide and tourism can be a promising tool for enhancing dimensions of social-cultural resilience. The more resilient a community is to sudden, unexpected, or chronic economic, political, social, and environmental (negative) events, the less vulnerable it is to these disruptions. This study aimed to investigate the impact of socio-cultural resilience dimensions of coastal regions on sustainable tourism development in coastal regions of Bushehr, Iran.  Design/methodology/approach- This study is applied in terms of its objective and is correlational-descriptive in nature. Based on the type of data collected and analyzed, it is a quantitative study. The target population comprised 1686 socio-cultural experts involved in tourism development in Bushehr City. A sample of 313 participants was selected using random sampling, based on Cochran's formula. The study utilized two questionnaires: a Sustainable Tourism Development questionnaire and a Socio-Cultural Resilience questionnaire. Smart Plus and SPSS software version 26, and parametric, and nonparametric statistical tests were used to analyze the findings. Findings- The results showed a significant positive relationship between socio-cultural resilience in coastal regions and the level of tourism development in Bushehr Province. The regression coefficient for the impact of sociocultural resilience on tourism development as a dependent variable was 0.767. The regression coefficients for the cultural, environmental, economic, and social dimensions were 0.713, 0.839, 0.773, and 0.611, respectively. The coefficient of determination (R²) for sustainable tourism development was 0.589, indicating that 58.9% of the variance in sustainable tourism development in coastal areas can be explained by sociocultural resilience. The R² values ​​for the cultural, environmental, economic and social dimensions were 0.508 (50.8%), 0.703 (70.3%), 0.597 (59.7%) and 0.373 (37.3%), respectively. Practical implications- The results of this study have significant implications for the development of public policies related to sustainable tourism. In conclusion, given the diverse tourism opportunities and potentials of Bushehr Province in coastal areas, especially in the field of water and coastal sports, tourism managers and planners as well as researchers and scientists must show the necessary commitment to the formation and development of this industry through proper planning and determining appropriate strategies. It concludes by presenting some policy-making guidelines for a tourism destination manager.