Factors Influencing the Success of Iranian Women Facilitators in Forming Rural Women Independent Groups: A Case Study of East Azarbaijan Province

One of the emphasized methods to promote women participation in rural society, as they are half of it, is to form independent women groups for collective action and team work. One of the methods that has been used in rural training and extension is to involve rural women leaders as "facilitators" for mobilization and capacity building in their society. In this study some personal and environmental factors that influence the success of facilitators in East Azarbaijan province will be examined drawing on the results of a field research that used face to face interviews and questionnaires in 6 counties. Questionnaire validity has been assessed by a number of subject specialists and academicians, and its reliability has been measured by using Cronbach's alpha which was equal to 88% and indicates appropriateness of research instruments. Findings show a significant relationship at 99% level between facilitator's success in generation and sustenance of independent women group activities (as dependent variable) and rural women acceptance of facilitators, facilitator connection with extension agents, her awareness of NGO concept (as independent variables). No significant relationship can be detected between dependent variable and variables related to the use of mass communication tools.