A comprehensive sustainable development framework; community capitals and village-cooperative initiative

Abstract

Abstract Considering the cooperative sector capabilities in organizing rural people, primarily focusing on empowering manpower and adopting a sustainable approach to basic resources (water and soil), village-cooperative initiative has emerged as a new concept by registering and forming 4565 new cooperatives in Iran’s rural regions. The present research which was conducted in two qualitative and quantitative phases designed a new model by integrating the new village-cooperative approach along with the sustainable livelihood’s framework theory. The study sample of the qualitative phase included 32 theorists of the village-cooperative initiative. To analyze the data, the grounded theory and three-step process of open coding, axial coding and selective coding were used using MAXqda18 software. Finally, a paradigm model was designed whose most important components included causal conditions (shocks and seasonal conditions), contextual conditions (trends and governmental support), intervening conditions (control and market development), central categories (sustainable livelihoods with a village- cooperative approach), strategies (coping and adaptation) and consequences (creating jobs, establishing cooperatives, supporting smart agriculture and strengthening social capital). The statistical quantitative phase population consisted of cooperatives members in the village-cooperative initiative (N=405), being selected through Cochran's formula with proportional sampling method summing up to198 people from 5 provinces. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire whose validity and reliability were confirmed. The Bayesian structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. The results of the research quantitative phase showed that the variables of financial capital, physical capital, social capital, coping and adaptation strategies, human capital and natural capital were the most effective variables on village-cooperative initiative members’ sustainable livelihoods, respectively. Finally, a hybrid model based on the qualitative and quantitative studies was designed and suggestions were made; for instance, the creation of suitable grounds for off-farm activities such as rural industries and ecotourism.