Assessment and Explanation the Entrepreneurial Competencies Framework of rural women facilitators (A study in Hamedan, Qom and Markazi provinces)

The main objective of this descriptive-analytical survey was to assess the entrepreneurial competencies of rural women facilitators and to develop a framework for entrepreneurial competencies in Hamedan, Qom and Markazi provinces. The statistical population included all rural women facilitators in these three provinces (N=473), out of which 212 people were selected as the study sample based on Cochran's formula. Data were collected through a questionnaire that its validity was confirmed by a panel of experts and its reliability was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were used to analyze and validate the proposed competencies framework with the help of Smart-PLS software. Based on the results, the women facilitators had all the entrepreneurial competences in a medium to high level. Among the proposed competences, moral competence, personal competence and technical competence were in the first to third priorities, respectively. The results of factor analysis for the validity of the competencies framework also showed that the twelve components of competencies have the accuracy to evaluate and predict the entrepreneurial competencies of rural women and the competencies framework in the research was approved. Generally, it can be concluded that the women facilitators have a desirable variety of entrepreneurial competencies. Therefore, it can be expected that there is the necessary capability and capacity in women facilitators to play an effective role in the process of entrepreneurship development and employment of rural women.