Green Entrepreneurship Intention Among Rural Women: Role of Social Capital, Training, And Microfinance Access

Green entrepreneurship has emerged as a critical pathway for achieving sustainable rural development while enhancing women’s economic empowerment. This study investigates the determinants of green entrepreneurship intention (GEI) among rural women, focusing on the roles of social capital, green entrepreneurship training, and microfinance access, grounded in an extended Theory of Planned Behavior framework. Using primary survey data collected from rural women associated with self-help groups and livelihood programs, the study employs PLS-SEM to test direct and indirect relationships. The results indicate that the proposed model explains a substantial proportion of variance in GEI (R² ≈ 0.56). Bridging social capital emerges as a stronger predictor of GEI (β ≈ 0.19) than bonding social capital (β ≈ 0.14), highlighting the importance of external networks. Training significantly enhances perceived behavioral control (β ≈ 0.35), which in turn positively influences GEI (β ≈ 0.31). Microfinance access also contributes to GEI, primarily through feasibility perceptions. The findings underscore the need for integrated interventions combining networks, skills, and finance to promote women-led green enterprises in rural contexts.