Taylor & Francis Online Top Full Article Figures & data References Supplemental Citations Metrics Reprints & Permissions Read this article ABSTRACT Rural women living in forest-margin regions play vital roles in household welfare, natural resource management, and local economies, yet they remain among the most structurally disadvantaged groups in rural development systems. This study develops an empirically grounded model of employment-oriented empowerment tailored to the socio-ecological and cultural conditions of forest-margin communities in Malekshahi County, western Iran. Using a qualitative case study informed by Grounded Theory methodology, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 27 expert stakeholders from academia, government, and development institutions. Systematic coding generated 163 open codes, 25 axial categories, and three integrated analytical domains: enabling conditions, strategic interventions, and empowerment outcomes. Findings conceptualize empowerment as a dynamic, multi-level process shaped by the interaction of forest-based livelihood opportunities, individual psychological and vocational capacities, and institutional support structures. Environmental shocks and gendered cultural norms act as cross-cutting moderators influencing both the trajectory and sustainability of empowerment. Durable outcomes emerge when market-oriented skill development, value-chain integration, financial access, and gender-responsive institutional support align. The model advances employment-based empowerment theory by integrating ecological constraints and cultural mediation into livelihood frameworks, while offering a practical roadmap for designing adaptive, place-based interventions in forest-dependent rural regions.
