Extended Abstract Background: The contribution of rural women to the economy of rural areas and the development of agricultural communities is widely acknowledged. Entrepreneurship development offers a promising solution to empower rural women, enhancing their efficiency and self-sufficiency. By economically empowering rural women, they gain the ability to make independent decisions and improve their household livelihoods. Rural entrepreneurship encompasses various aspects of employment and income generation within rural communities. It predominantly stems from agricultural and indigenous activities within villages. As a collective effort, entrepreneurship significantly impacts a community’s employment opportunities and income levels. Moreover, fostering entrepreneurship leads to long-term economic and social sustainability, enhancing resilience and competitiveness. The present study primarily aimed to identify the determinants of entrepreneurship development within MICROCREDIT funds operated by rural women’s cooperatives in Marvdasht County. This research was prompted by the pressing issue of sustainable livelihoods in rural households, which stands as a significant challenge in rural development. Addressing this issue can mitigate adverse outcomes, including rural outmigration. The study specifically focused on rural development within home-based businesses led by women who are members of MICROCREDIT funds. A central aspect explored was the mediating role of the business life cycle in this context. Analogous to the life cycle of a living organism, the business life cycle illustrates the stages from inception to decline. At each stage, implementing well-suited strategies can prolong the business’s existence and contribute to its growth and development. The research delved into various factors, including personality traits, the business environment, and government policies. Their impact was rigorously assessed on entrepreneurship development. Based on the findings, practical and policy-oriented solutions were proposed for the study area, aiming to foster sustainable entrepreneurial endeavors among rural women. Methods: This applied research was conducted using a descriptive approach. The research method employed a survey, and the research instrument consisted of a semi-structured questionnaire with both open-ended and closed-ended questions. The validity of the questionnaire was assessed by entrepreneurship experts at Shiraz University, and its reliability was measured by calculating Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. The study population was selected from 375-unit home-based businesses that were members of Marvdasht County MICROCREDIT funds. The stratified random sampling method with appropriate allocation was conducted in this study. Initially, the population was divided into five distinct categories: greenhouse, processing industries, horticulture, animal husbandry, and aviculture. Subsequently, using the Krejcie and Morgan table, 190 individuals were randomly selected from these categories, ensuring proportional representation within the target population or sampling frame. SPSS26 was utilized for data processing and inference of results. Additionally, the software Amos24 was employed for path analysis results. Results: Based on Pearson's correlation analysis, there were positive and significant relationships between the business life cycle and the supportive policy, incentive policy, management skills, independence, need for achievement, risk taking, self-directed education, family support, workforce, initial investment, and annual income variables. Moreover, the findings based on Pearson’s correlation showed positive and significant relationships between entrepreneurship development and business lifecycle, supportive policy, incentive policy, management skills, independence, need for achievement, risk taking, self-directed education, family support, education level, workforce, initial investment, and annual income variables. According to the results of the path analysis, the effects of variables, such as the life cycle, incentive policy, management skills, independence, control center, and seeking success were significant on entrepreneurship development, and the greatest impact on the entrepreneurship development variable belonged to the independence variable. Conclusion: To identify the determinants of entrepreneurship development among rural women who are members of MICROCREDIT funds in Marvdasht County, the known research variables were assessed using statistical methods and path analysis. Based on the research findings, women’s independence has the most significant impact on their entrepreneurship development. This underscores the importance of women’s personality traits in business and its subsequent growth. Therefore, it is crucial to pay attention to their individual characteristics, particularly motivating them to take charge of their business destiny. Independence empowers women to make informed decisions about staying in or leaving a business when conditions warrant. To enhance women’s self-esteem and empower them to recognize their true social and economic standing, it is suggested to organize psychological counseling sessions and utilize responsible organizations to conduct motivational classes, group discussions, and awareness campaigns. Furthermore, the results of the path analysis model demonstrate that the business life cycle, a unique feature applicable to all businesses, has a direct impact on individual entrepreneurship development. It is recommended to identify the stages of business life cycles, enabling the implementation of appropriate training at each phase. This approach can foster women’s entrepreneurial activities and prevent premature dissolution, and unintentional abandonment of home-based businesses. Providing straightforward management skills training, counseling women on their economic business environment, facilitating connections among occupational groups to share firsthand experiences, establishing rural entrepreneurship hubs for discovering novel ideas, and fostering entrepreneurship among women are among the proposed strategies.

This article is devoted to look at how the factors micro-loan risks in microfinance are related to the micro-borrowers. In this regard, the present analysis involves the using of a set representative and fundamental variables in our research. The study basically use the socio-economic and socio-demographic features specific to the micro-borrowers, which are expected to affect the repayment delay, using the scoring models introduced to assess the micro-borrowers’ risk quality. Based on survey and logistic regression containing these features, the empirical results of econometric model show their impact on the repayment delay in the Tunisian Micro-Credit Associations.

The Purpose of this study was to analyzing the solutions of MICROCREDIT funds to empower rural women (ERW) in Lorestan province. Statistical population of this research consisted the rural women of micro credit fund members in Lorestan province (N= 772) that 160 of them determined as a statistical sample by using Cochran’ s formula. Samples were selected based on multi stage sampling method and data were collected by questionnaire. Questionnaire's reliability and validity were confirmed respectively through computing Cronbach's alpha coefficient (0. 89) and content validity. Data analyzed by SPSS20 and LISREL8. 8 software. According to results of the exploratory factor analysis solutions of MICROCREDIT fund in the ERW in Lorestan province categorized in five factors that in order of importance are: 1) supporting members and directing their activities; 2) providing training to members and the board; 3) improving fund management; 4) utilizing side capacities; and 5) enhancing participatory spirit among Members. These solutions explained 68. 3% of the total variance. Results of the confirmatory factor analysis indicated the significance of these factors as solutions for improve the functioning of MICROCREDIT funds to ERW in Lorestan province.

2The MICROCREDIT fund serves as a mechanism to enhance the low participation rate of rural women in economic activities, addressing a critical gap in economic empowerment. The primary objective of this research was to identify barriers hindering women's involvement in rural MICROCREDIT funds. A descriptive-analytical methodology was employed, using data collected through a survey. The study focused on 415 rural women in Kermanshah County, with a sample of 160 determined using the Cochran formula. The research utilized a questionnaire as its primary data collection instrument, validated through insights from six professors in the Agricultural Promotion and Education Department at Razi University and feedback from 13 rural women participants. The reliability and internal consistency of the questionnaire were assessed using Cronbach's alpha, yielding a score of 0.87, indicating a high level of accuracy in the data collected. Data analysis, conducted using SPSS WIN23 software, revealed three main barrier components. The first, "educational-cultural barriers," accounted for 27.69% of the total variance. The second, "poor management and low efficiency," contributed 19.64%, while the third, "economic inefficiency," accounted for 15.06% of the variance. Collectively, these components explained 62.39% of the factors inhibiting the participation of women in MICROCREDIT funds. The findings carry significant theoretical and practical implications, providing valuable insights for policymakers. The study emphasizes the need for effective educational programs, improved management of rural women’s MICROCREDIT funds, and strategic allocation of credits towards economically productive activities, all crucial for fostering entrepreneurship and enhancing economic participation among rural women.

Purpose: This study examines the effect of MICROCREDIT accounts, Empowerment of rural women and rural development. Survey research was conducted in the second half of 2021. The study's sample comprises rural women in MICROCREDIT accounts in Karim Abad and Parluk villages in Saleh Abad County in Hamedan Province.Methods: A questionnaire was used for data collection, but interviews, observations, and field studies were also used. Experts confirmed that the questionnaire had a valid face. The questionnaire was given to credit, economy, banking, and financial credit experts to determine its reliability. As a result of Cronbach's alpha analysis, a value of 0.82 was obtained, which is very satisfactory. SPSS software was used to analyze the data to identify the key factors.Results: Based on the value of variance, we present five significant factors that influence MICROCREDIT accounts of rural women in this study: economic and motivational factors (16.051), social damages (14.701), satisfaction (14.545), empowerment of employment (9.057), and investment development (7.371).Conclusion: The rationalization sessions should be held for those not members of such credits to familiarize them with the development of such distinctions and encourage them to engage in profitable occupations. A further suggestion is to establish a communicative network among these credit institutions in other villages to share experiences and learn from one another.

Context: The low participation rate of women in economic activities has caused the entrepreneurship rate of women to be lower than that of men. Without the economic participation of women in starting SMEs, it will be challenging for developing countries to achieve the 2030 sustainable development goals and reach their full economic and social potential. Recent studies show that the gender difference in the rate of economic participation and entrepreneurship is not only due to the low success rate of female entrepreneurs, but the main reason is that few women are able to start a business. Therefore, try to promote entrepreneurial businesses among rural women is very important. The starting point for launching a business is opportunity recognition, and the process of identifying entrepreneurial opportunities is different for women than for men. Therefore, it is very important to carry out researches with the aim of identifying factors that influence the recognition of entrepreneurial opportunities among women. Considering that in many developing countries, women have less access to financial resources than men, so this is one of the reasons for the low level of economic participation of women. In this regard, the project of MICROCREDIT funds for financial support of women in order to start entrepreneurial businesses has been implemented in different countries, including Iran. Object: Now, after many years have passed since the establishment of these funds in Kermanshah province with the aim of financing the rural women of this region to start entrepreneurial businesses, the present study was conducted with the main aim of analyzing factors influencing the recognition of entrepreneurial opportunities among rural women members of MICROCREDIT funds in Kermanshah. Research Method: This paper in terms of the paradigm, purpose and method of data collection is quantitative research, applied research and field research study. The study population in this study were all women members of MICROCREDIT funds in Kermanshah (N = 626) that according to the table of Bartlett et al., 201 of them using stratified random sampling method with proportional assignment Were selected as research samples. The main data collection tool was a questionnaire whose validity and reliability were confirmed using content validity and convergent validity and combined reliability and Cronbach's alpha. SPSS and Smart PLS software were used to analyze the collected data. Findings: Findings of the study showed that entrepreneurship education, social capital and entrepreneurial skills were the effective factors on entrepreneurial opportunities among rural women members of MICROCREDIT funds in Kermanshah. According the results About the trainings provided by the MICROCREDIT fund, most of the respondents (34. 3%) stated that they participated in these trainings once or twice. Also, 35. 3% of them stated that they have participated in the training provided by the agricultural extension between 1 and 2 times. In relation to receiving informal entrepreneurial training, as the results of the distribution of respondents in terms of the index of standard deviation distance from the mean show, the majority of respondents (91%) were in the lower and weak middle class. The average opportunity recognition ability of the respondents is 3. 41 with a standard deviation of 0. 60. Among the dimensions of the ability to recognize the opportunity, creating innovative solutions from the opportunity had a higher average (3. 51) than other dimensions. Also, the findings of the study indicated that the average entrepreneurial skills of rural women members of the fund are 3. 15 with a standard deviation of 0. 63. As the findings, more than half of the respondents (56. 7 percent) were in the lower middle class in terms of entrepreneurial skills. Overall the results of the study showed that rural women members of MICROCREDIT funds in Kermanshah are at an average level in terms of the ability to recognize entrepreneurial opportunities. Also findings of the study showed that entrepreneurship education, social capital and entrepreneurial skills were the effective factors on entrepreneurial opportunities among rural women members of MICROCREDIT funds in Kermanshah. Conclusion: The results of the present study indicated that, in addition to the direct effect, entrepreneurial education has an indirect effect through social capital on the recognition of entrepreneurial opportunities by rural women who are members of MICROCREDIT funds in Kermanshah. The results of the present study indicated that entrepreneurial skills have a positive and significant effect on recognizing entrepreneurial opportunities among rural women members of MICROCREDIT funds in Kermanshah. Therefore, it can be concluded that by improving entrepreneurial skills, the ability to recognize opportunities among rural women members of MICROCREDIT funds can be improved. In fact, entrepreneurial skills such as planning and setting work goals, designing and developing a business plan, financial and accounting issues, analyzing problems and providing solutions help rural women to better address the gaps in the society and in fact to identify entrepreneurial opportunities.

Background and Objective: The rural women's participation fund is one of the institutions that has been paying small loans since 1997. These funds were implemented by the Women's Affairs Office of the Ministry of Agricultural Jihad using the experience of Grameen Bank Bangladesh. The issue of women's empowerment, especially in recent decades, has been the center of attention of international institutions and organizations. The Women's Organization in the United Nations, which acts as one of the most important international institutions and organizations in the field of women's rights, within the framework of the United Nations, has focused on the issue of women's empowerment. MICROCREDITs for women with no income have been proposed as one of the possible solutions to achieve sustainable economic and social development in rural areas. Based on this, this research was conducted with the aim of investigating the factors affecting the success of MICROCREDIT funds in empowering rural women in Bahar. Materials and methodology: The statistical population of this research includes 250 women who are members of MICROCREDIT funds of residents of 6 villages of Bahar city, who have used the facilities of the mentioned funds. Bahar city has a total of 9 micro credit funds in Gonbadan, Chotash, Simin, Zagheh, Gendjin and Sulaimanabad villages with 250 members. Findings: The results showed that women's authority in selling agricultural, horticultural and livestock products, as well as their authority in buying and selling land and houses, has the highest priority in the economic empowerment of rural women in Bahar. Discussion and Conclusion: The findings of the research showed that the credit of micro funds has been able to provide the basis for the development of the socio-economic status of rural communities by attracting the participation of women as permanent helpers

In the last three decades, microfinance has been proposed as a way to combat rural poverty and some countries have achieved significant success in this field. The significance of this achievement has been in such a way that the World Bank has named, the year 2005, as the year of "MICROCREDIT" and has encouraged developing countries in the application of this credit method. The main objective of the present study is determining the effect of micro-credit funds on alleviating poverty, generating income and creating employment. Statistical population of the study consisted all members of the micro-credit funds in Kerman province in the year 2013-14, in which 97 members were selected as a sample using Cochran formula. Face validity was done with agricultural extension and education specialists. The reliability of the study using Cronbach's alpha test was about 0. 89. To analyze the data, descriptive statistical methods such as frequency, percentage, weighted scores and mean were used. Based on the results, except variables improving housing conditions and the ability to pay for children's education, the satisfaction level is more than the average (3). Thus, since the membership, total income of the family has increased and poverty declined, self-employment created and earlier business has flourished.

This research aims to determine the household vulnerability in two MICROCREDIT programs, namely Women MICROCREDIT Fund (WMF) and Self-Financed groups (SF). The panel data of monthly consumption and income for a sample of 280 households were collected in Fars province. Risk-sharing framework was used for determination of vulnerability of each households and groups. Results showed that two groups were accepted risk sharing. Moreover, 48 and 45 percent of member households was vulnerable in WMF and SF groups, respectively. Also, the vulnerability of member households in SF groups and non-member households in WMF was more than others. According to the results, MICROCREDIT programs can reduce and share the risk of household consumption, so expansion of them seems necessary.