Assessment of effect size and social indicators sustainability in the context of international rural development projects in Iran: Using BACI framework

The importance of recognizing social sustainability assessment for successful project management is increasingly emphasized. However, the extent to which this dimension of sustainability is evaluated alongside the economic and environmental dimensions in project management has not been sufficiently examined in the literature. To address this gap, an empirical study was conducted to assess the effect size and the level of social sustainability in the MENARID Integrated Regional Development Project in the RAZIN watershed of Iran. This study followed a causal-comparative design, which involved comparing villages with and without MENARID implementation. Using a stratified random sampling method, 479 households were selected from villages within the RAZIN watershed, both with and without MENARID.The BACI (Before-After-Control-Impact) design was utilized to ascertain the effect size, and the social sustainability formula was employed to evaluate social indicators. The results indicated mixed impacts of the MENARID project: participation and communication indicators showed significant positive effects, achieving an acceptable level of sustainability, while trust and accountability experienced negative effects. The scope and direction of these impacts varied based on stakeholders' perspectives. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating social sustainability assessment alongside economic and environmental dimensions to inform decision-making and guide resource allocation in international development projects. • The study explores MENARID (Middle East and North Africa Rural Integrated Development) assessment tool from the social aspect. • Data collected from the systematic review and PRA were used to examine the research question to determine the social categories and indicators. • Detailed analysis of MENARID assessment tool was observed to determine the level of social criteria of sustainable development. • The sustainability of indicators is determined using their effect size.