Assessing the components of water governance in Qom province within the framework of sustainable development

One of the most important issues and challenges for Iran, particularly in hot and arid regions such as Qom province, is the current water crisis. Research has shown that good governance is directly linked to sustainable rural development. Therefore, the present study aims to design a water governance model in rural communities of Qom province to achieve sustainable rural development. The research population comprised 163 water experts from the Agricultural Engineering Organization of Qom province and 130 experts from the Water Organization of Qom province. Based on Cochran's formula and considering the population size, a sample size of 170 individuals was calculated and selected using simple random sampling. A questionnaire was used as the main research tool for data collection, which had been validated and confirmed for its reliability. The collected data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (partial least squares method) and confirmatory factor analysis. According to the results, it was determined that in the research model for measuring sustainable development in Qom province, three factors, namely government effectiveness, participation, and technical factors, are recognized as components of sustainable development. Additionally, for measuring the factors influencing water governance, technical, economic, social, institutional, legal, and customary factors are recognized as identified factors. Previous studies have not considered the role of water governance in rural development. This study, however, has placed greater emphasis on the role of water governance in sustainable rural development through a review of various theories and perspectives on this matter.