Objective:This study was conducted to identify and prioritize effective strategies for the development of women's social entrepreneurship in Chabahar County, with a specific focus on cultural, institutional, and individual dimensions. Considering the unique socioeconomic characteristics of the region—characterized by traditional social structures, limited access to institutional support, and low female labor force participation—understanding the critical factors that can empower women and promote their active engagement in economic and social development is essential. The findings aim to contribute to the broader discourse on gender-inclusive sustainable development and social justice in underdeveloped areas.

Methodology:This research employed a mixed-methods approach that combined qualitative and quantitative phases using an exploratory sequential design. In the qualitative phase, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 15 key informants, including female social entrepreneurs, local development practitioners, institutional representatives, and civil society actors. Thematic analysis was conducted following Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six-step framework, which led to the identification of 109 initial codes. These were refined into 16 sub-themes and grouped under four overarching themes. Based on the qualitative findings, a structured pairwise comparison questionnaire was developed for the quantitative phase.

In the second phase, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was employed to prioritize the identified strategies. A purposive sample of 18 experts was selected, including eight participants from the qualitative phase, based on their familiarity with the subject matter and professional experience. Data were collected through AHP questionnaires, and the consistency ratio in all pairwise comparisons remained below 0.1, confirming the reliability of the responses. Content validity was also ensured through expert evaluation.

Findings:The thematic analysis categorized development strategies into four main domains: (1) individual and social empowerment, (2) institutional and infrastructural support, (3) strengthening cultural and social foundations, and (4) inter-institutional coordination and collaboration. The AHP results indicated that "strengthening cultural and social foundations" was the highest priority strategy, with a composite weight of 0.351. This was followed by "institutional and infrastructural support" (0.293), "individual and social empowerment" (0.217), and "inter-institutional coordination" (0.139). Among the most influential sub-strategies were entrepreneurial training, financial resource accessibility, the establishment of support networks, and public awareness campaigns promoting women's capabilities.

Conclusion:The study concludes that the development of women's social entrepreneurship in culturally traditional and economically marginalized regions such as Chabahar requires a localized policy orientation. Priority should be given to transforming cultural attitudes and enhancing social capital before implementing institutional or educational interventions. This perspective suggests that any structural or financial support initiatives must be culturally contextualized and socially integrated to ensure their effectiveness. The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, development agencies, and local stakeholders, emphasizing the need to design culturally sensitive and socially embedded interventions that recognize community norms and gendered power dynamics. Such strategies can play a critical role in fostering inclusive entrepreneurship and promoting long-term sustainable development.