Analysis of the Relationship between Cooperation and Empowerment among Rural Women: A Case Study of Family-Neighborhood Qarz Al-hasaneh Funds in Tang Siab Rural District, Kuhdasht City

The financial empowerment of rural women and their participation in economic, social, cultural and political fields is one of the most important factors in achieving sustainable rural development. One of the most common empowerment projects in the form of microcredit system in Iran is Qarz Al-hasaneh funds. In recent years a new species from Iran have been formed in rural areas based on informal networks and links that are different from conventional models. This paper is to find out the efficiency of funds based on family-neighborhood relations in increasing the empowerment of women in Tang Siab district of Kuhdasht city; so a qualitative approach, snowball sampling, semi-structured and deep interviews, Participatory observation and focused group discussion with 23 people and observation were used for data collection and a total of 48 concepts and 9 categories were obtained. Results showed that formation and membership in the Fund can Lead to increase income and household savings and the share of women in the family, enhance decision-making power of women in the family and in the village, improve public opinion towards women, teamwork maintenance and continuing and to expand its lead in other issues. Therefore, the mentioned funds, by improving the economic and social situation of women, facilitate the achievement of levels of capability.