Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Extension, Communication and Rural Development, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran.
2
1) Department of Agricultural Extension, Communication and Rural Development, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran.
Abstract
Worldwide, the increasing depletion of groundwater reserves indicates that the fundamental challenge is no longer merely the physical scarcity of water, but rather the weakness and inefficiency of governance frameworks in managing these vital resources sustainably. Accordingly, this mixed-methods (qualitative-quantitative) research aimed to identify and prioritize the factors affecting sustainable groundwater governance in Zanjan Province, conducted using the Delphi technique. The statistical population consisted of 21 experts, senior executives from relevant organizations, and university faculty members specializing in water management and governance, purposively selected via the snowball sampling method based on their academic qualifications and professional experience. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software, employing mean, standard deviation, and Kendall's coefficient of concordance. Following two Delphi rounds and the confirmation of consensus stability (based on the Schmidt stability criterion and the consistency of Kendall’s W), 22 key drivers were identified that simultaneously met the criteria for importance and convergence of opinions. Ultimately, the selected drivers were prioritized within a layered model; the critical layer, as the core of the model, focuses on three strategic factors: reforming the water pricing system, enhancing the deterrent power of laws, and deploying monitoring technologies. In the subsequent levels, the necessary layer comprised 14 factors (such as climate change adaptation, inter-institutional coordination, and policy stability), and the supporting layer included five factors (including clarifying water property rights, integrating customary and formal institutions, and local decentralization), which collectively constitute the strategic framework for sustainable groundwater governance in Zanjan Province. By providing a prioritized structure, the findings of this study offer an objective platform for the realization of evidence-based governance, serving as a reference model for reforming decision-making processes in regions facing similar hydrological stress.
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