Rural Development Planning Research Articles

Towards Sustainable Rural Development: Assessment Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Rural Ecosystem Health through Integrating Ecosystem Integrity and SDGs

Rural ecosystem health (REH) serves as an effective metric for assessing the damage degree and stability state within rural systems and their components. It reflects the interaction and the balance among rural subsystems, emphasizing the harmonious development of resources, agriculture, environment, economy, and society that are fundamental to sustainable rural development. Most regional-scale ecosystem health assessments primarily focus on either the natural state of the ecosystem or external disturbances affecting it, often neglecting human ecological systems characterized by economic and social dimensions. Taking Chongqing as an example, we established an improved REH assessment framework by integrating ecological integrity from the perspective of a social-economy-natural compound ecosystem. Furthermore, we innovatively incorporated the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the formulation of the REH indicator system to quantitatively elucidate the spatiotemporal characteristics. The results indicated that: (1) The REH in Chongqing exhibited an evolutionary pattern characterized by a subsequent rise, maintaining values between 0.363–0.872 from 2000 to 2018. This trend reflected a distinct two-stage development characteristic, with the rural socio-economic subsystem contributing the most at 33.36%, followed closely by the rural environmental subsystem at 27.84%; (2) In 2018, the REH across the 36 districts and counties in Chongqing displayed spatial differentiation patterns described as “collapse in the west, high levels in the northeast, and localized surges”. The areas ranked from smallest to largest REH were metropolitan, western, southeastern, and northeastern areas; (3) Four levels (e.g., disease, single health, compound health, and comprehensive health) and twelve sub-levels of REH were defined using a dominant factors method. Finally, we analyzed the driving factors from four aspects of urbanization development: policy regulation, urban-rural factors flow, and regional differences. We also proposed differentiated planning and policies for sustainable rural development in Chongqing.

Assessing rural revitalization potential through rural transformation degree and sustainability: A quantitative study of 460 case villages in Lingbao, China

Extensive international experience shows that only villages with sustainable transformation achieve rural revitalization, while those with intense but unsustainable or stagnant transformation struggle to revitalize. However, this cognition lacks robust quantitative substantiation. Therefore, we established a rural revitalization potential assessment framework based on the rural transformation degree and sustainability, employing the Penalty for a Bottleneck (PFB) method and Entropy Function to measure the rural transformation degree and sustainability of 460 villages in Lingbao City, Henan Province, China, from 2000 to 2021, thus evaluating rural revitalization potential. The Mann-Kendall (MK) test was conducted to detect rural transformation thresholds, further quantifying the spatial relationship between rural transformation degree and sustainability through bivariate spatial autocorrelation analysis (BSA). Our findings resonate with the central place theory that villages near those at advanced stages of development struggle to transform sustainably. Additionally, with the optimization of rural population density, and land use structure, these villages demonstrated a discernible upward trajectory in transformation sustainability. Villages with the highest rural revitalization potential were predominantly distributed in the northern of the Yellow River terrace, while those in the southwestern mountainous areas lacked revitalization potential due to low transformation degree. Generally, villages at higher altitudes and steeper slopes exhibited lower rural transformation degree, sustainability, and revitalization potential. With 30 km as the critical point, rural revitalization potential decreased initially and then increased with distance from the county government seat. This study provides essential references for the rational allocation of rural transformation and revitalization resources and for optimizing rural development planning.

Advocating ‘eco-village’ for sustainable development: The dayalbagh way of life

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; layout-grid-mode: char; mso-layout-grid-align: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; margin: 12.0pt 0cm 6.0pt 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 120%; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">India as a country has its identity deeply rooted in its rural culture. Whether we talk about agriculture, tradition, food, art, or music, the rural society of India has always proven itself a representation towards the national front. The Dayalbagh society in Agra city of Uttar Pradesh (India) is engaged to strengthen the nation’s roots through education, technology, sustainability, management, innovation, research, and most importantly, selfless service. The major potential for economic growth in India lies in the development of its rural areas. This article is an attempt to spot the outlook of a society that has its inception for the past 100 years and is continuously making efforts to glorify the message of sustainable development, environmental protection, and rural development through its effective plans in designing an eco-village-based society. Based on the narrative description approach, this article highlights the efforts and strategies employed by the Dayalbagh society to promote sustainable development, environmental protection, and rural development. The focus is on how society integrates education, technology, sustainability, management, innovation, research, and selfless service to achieve these goals. The Dayalbagh society’s initiatives have taken into consideration economic, social, environmental, and human aspects, demonstrating significant contributions towards sustainable development and rural empowerment. The philosophy and successful practices of the Dayalbagh society can inspire and guide others in developing action plans for effective environmental protection and sustainable rural development. By adopting such approaches, other organizations, decision-makers, and individuals can contribute to the overall growth and well-being of rural areas in India.</span></p>

Dynamics of land use and land cover changes in Amibara and Awash-fentale districts, Ethiopia

The analysis of land-use and land-cover (LULC) changes is crucial for rural development planning, food security monitoring, and natural resource conservation. This study focuses on detecting LULC changes in Amibara and Awash-Fentale districts from 1985 to 2021. We utilized five sets of Landsat data (Landsat 5 TM for 1985, 1995, 2002, and Landsat 8 OLI for 2015 & 2020) and applied supervised maximum likelihood classification. Accuracy assessments revealed overall accuracies ranging from 88.9% to 95.3% for Amibara and 89.5%–93.2% for Awash-Fentale. Both districts exhibited six main LULC classes: agriculture, bareland, built-up, mixed forest, shrubland, and water bodies. In Amibara LULC changes from 1985 to 2021 revealed significant shifts, maintaining its primary bareland characteristic, concentrated agriculture, and expanding Prosopis-dominated shrubland due to livestock-mediated seed dispersal. Conversely, in Awash-Fentale bareland dominance decreased from 92.28% to 67.02%, while agriculture, built-up areas, and shrubland expanded. Water bodies emerged between 2015 and 2021 which is associated with the construction of Kesem Kebena dam for sugar cane farm production. The net gains were observed in shrubland (12.9%), agriculture (5.8%), mixed forest (4.1%), water bodies (1.5%), and built-up areas (0.9%), with bareland experiencing a loss of 25.3%. In conclusion, Amibara and Awash-Fentale underwent both comparable and distinct LULC shifts, featuring prevalent bareland and central agriculture, alongside Prosopis-driven shrubland expansion due to livestock dispersal. While mixed forest exhibited fluctuations, built-up areas and water bodies remained limited. Notably, Awash-Fentale showed higher LULC variability. Understanding these land cover changes helps assess vulnerability to climate impacts like droughts and floods, enhancing climate resilience. Insights from this study can inform sustainable land-use planning, conservation strategies, and policy interventions in the Afar region and similar areas. These observations highlight the need for integrated land management approaches that balance socioeconomic development with environmental sustainability.

Foresight methodology as a basis for strategic planning for rural areas development

Modern forecasting methodology is quite flexible and multifaceted. Foresight tools can be widely used at different hierarchical levels of management. The use of a systemic approach in combination with foresight technologies makes it possible to develop strategic plans for the development of rural areas in terms of improving their economic and social component. The purpose of the study is to establish the scientific basis for the use of Foresight methodology in strategic planning for the development of rural areas. The scientific novelty of the research is determined by the development of an algorithm for strategic planning of rural development on the basis of foresight methodology and the formation of a set of practical recommendations for the use of foresight tools at the regional level of management in rural areas. The article analyzes Foresight projects and programs used in forecasting rural management and development. The study presents a Foresight algorithm for strategic planning of rural development and a mechanism for its implementation at the local level. The main components of the procedure were formed as a result of a comprehensive Foresight analysis of alternative rural development scenarios. Foresight technologies must be used as a systematic tool for the formation and implementation of a strategy for sustainable development of rural areas. The main results of the study include: generalization of the experience of Foresight studies of rural development; development of an algorithm for strategic planning of rural development based on Foresight methodology; formation of alternative scenarios for the development of rural areas at the regional level. Methodological approaches and provisions for strategic planning of rural development, developed using the Foresight methodology, can be used in creating road maps and strategic plans for the socio-economic development of rural areas.

Exploring land use dynamics in rural areas. An analysis of eight cases in the Global North

Rural areas are pivotal in the global economy, hence rural development planners and decision makers face significant technical and information management challenges, hindering their ability to assess sustainable development and formulate strategies. These challenges, coupled with shifts in traditional rural activities, aging populations, and climate change impacts, create inequalities and threaten rural communities. Therefore, developing approaches for the assessment of changes in rural areas are required. In recent years, remote sensing has emerged as a useful tool for monitoring the complex dynamics of rural regions, with a notable increase in the accessibility and use of freely available satellite data and platforms for tracking changes in land use and land cover (LULC). In light of this trend, this article analyzes the spatio-temporal trends in eight different development regions in Japan, Germany, Poland and Spain and integrates them with population data. This research relied on the utilization of openly available datasets - satellite imagery from Landsat and WorldPop population data, processed in Google Earth Engine (GEE). The time series of Landsat imagery were employed to analyze changes in LULC over a 20-year period from 2000 to 2020 in each test site. Unique combinations (i.e. each pixel history) were systematically examined and categorized based on established rules, with improbable scenarios marked as "uncertain." The comparison demonstrates that all eight regions have unique spatial, temporal and thematic characteristics. The most significant changes observed include the transformation of tree-covered areas into built-up areas in the case of Tsukuba and into agricultural lands in Shibushi. In the Bodzentyn and Połaniec communes in Poland, agricultural lands have transitioned into forested areas. In Spain, there is an increase in built-up areas, particularly at the outskirts of established towns. In Germany, the results indicate an expansion of built-up and agricultural areas in the Fürth region, while the Regen region experienced an increase in agricultural land. Incorporating population data reveals relationships between different types of LULC conversions and population trends, showing clear positive trends in areas transformed from agricultural and tree-covered land to built-up areas, with the most profound changes observed in Spanish cases and Tsukuba. The findings from automatic LULC classification highlight the usefulness of this tool in identifying socio-economic changes, especially when it is integrated with and compared to statistical data. Policy makers and planners at local levels should consider these specific values as a foundational reference point for shaping their plans related to sustainable development, land use, environmental preservation, and resource management.

Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Spatiotemporal Distribution of Rural Houses Construction Development in Mountainous Villages of China (1980–2019): A Case Study of Qingyuan Town

Rural house is a fundamental component of rural settlements, and understanding its construction and development characteristics is crucial for rural land use and development planning. This paper focuses on the spatiotemporal characteristics and influencing factors of Rural Houses Construction Development (RHCD) from 1980 to 2019 with a case study of Qingyuan Town in China. Based on the literature review and filed research, a set of evaluation indicators for RHCD was established. The article calculates RHCD indicators from temporal and spatial dimensions, uses the location entropy method to demonstrate the spatial distribution of indicators, and classifies the RHCD type of 14 villages in Qingyuan Town using clustering algorithms. It also analyzes the influencing factors of spatiotemporal distribution. The results show that the RHCD in Qingyuan Town exhibits typical characteristics of mountainous areas and aligns with the development trends of rural society in China. Population growth, geographical location, and economic development are the primary driving factors for the quantity indicator (Qi), while economic growth, construction technology, industrial development, and policy adjustments are the key factors influencing the form indicator (Fi). In future policy-making, greater emphasis should be placed on optimizing development strategies, improving data and monitoring systems, and integrating administrative strength with actual development needs.

Seribu Peta Citra Desa dan Pembangunan Pedesaan

This article discusses the importance of rural development planning supported by the availability of spatial data in the form of maps. The "1000 Village Maps" program is an initiative by the Faculty of Geography, Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta, to provide grants of village image maps to villages in Central Java and parts of East Java. The method of map creation involves students in various stages, from preliminary surveys to map handovers. The results and discussion of the article depict stories from several recipient villages, highlighting the appreciation and benefits felt by the village authorities, as well as the positive impact on development planning. This program is expected to enhance the quality of rural development planning and strengthen the bond between higher education institutions and communities through community service.

Developing Global Interdependencies: Consulting Firms and Nordic Aid in Postcolonial Tanzania's Rural Economic Development

The globalization of developmentalist architecture has become a major topic in architectural history, but less is known about the funding mechanisms and national development policies that supported consulting firms as they competed for contracts in the global South. This article examines the application of the integrated rural development (IRD) approach in postcolonial Tanzania, taking as its point of departure two IRD-based regional economic plans developed for the regions of Mtwara and Lindi that were financed by the Finnish development organization Finnida and prepared by two Finnish consulting firms, Finnplanco and Finconsult. While the Nordic countries actively promoted developmentalist intervention in the late 20th century, the role they played in this context has been overlooked. Attempts to implement these rural economic development plans are relevant to architectural history, even if the implementation failed, because they shed light on the modernization projects promoted by ‘global experts’ worldwide, drawing attention to the long-term dialogue between developmentalist forces and architectural state-making in the global South.

Unveiling the Impact of Leadership on Community Engagement in Cicadas Village

This study aims to investigate the impact of village government leadership on enhancing community participation in development planning in Cicadas Village, Bogor Regency. The research utilized a quantitative method with a population of 234 households. Sampling was conducted through incidental sampling using the Slovin Formula, resulting in a sample size of 148 households. Data collection involved observation, questionnaires, and documentation. Data analysis employed frequency tabulation and simple regression analysis using IBM SPSS 23.0 for Windows. The findings indicate that village government leadership significantly influences community participation in development planning in Cicadas Village, evidenced by a calculated t-value of 8.778 and a significance value of 0.000 < 0.05, thus rejecting Ho and accepting Hi. Consequently, there exists a strong correlation between village government leadership and the optimization of community participation in development planning. Better village government leadership correlates with increased community participation in development planning. This research is expected to serve as a guideline for village governments in rural development planning and to provide comprehensive insights into the importance of village government leadership and community participation optimization.

ОСОБЕННОСТИ СТРАТЕГИЧЕСКОГО ПЛАНИРОВАНИЯ УСТОЙЧИВОГО РАЗВИТИЯ СЕЛЬСКИХ ТЕРРИТОРИАЛЬНЫХ СИСТЕМ

Based on the analysis of existing studies of foreign and domestic scientists concerning strategic planning, the article attempts to substantiate the necessity of changing the approach to strategic planning of rural territorial systems development. It is offered to lay in a basis of the given process a principle of collective participation with attraction to working out of the purposes of stable development of local community which role in the conditions of transition to strategy of stable development gets the increasing importance. 
 Considering the interests of the local community and its involvement in the process of working out the strategy of development of the territorial system of which it is a part, will allow them to determine their future and to solve those problems which are the most significant for the certain territory.

Urban–Rural Boundary Delineation Based on Population Spatialization: A Case Study of Guizhou Province, China

Rational delineation of urban–rural boundaries is a foundational prerequisite for holistic urban and rural development planning and rational resource allocation. However, using a single data source for urban–rural boundaries yields non-comprehensive results. To address this problem, the present study proposes a method for extracting urban–rural boundaries using multiple sources such as population data, nighttime light data, land use, and points of interest (POI) data. Considering Guizhou Province for a case study, this study presents a two-step method for identifying urban–rural boundaries. First, the random forest model was combined with the dasymetric mapping method to obtain the province’s population spatialization data with a 30-m resolution. Second, based on the spatialized population, the urban–rural boundary for Guizhou Province in 2020 was extracted using the breaking point method. This method comprehensively integrated the benefits of various data and judiciously extracted the boundaries of the main urban areas and small and medium-sized towns of each city in the study province at the same spatial scale. The stratified random sampling method revealed an average overall accuracy of 88.05%. The proposed method has high universality and application value and can be useful for accurate and practical identification of urban–rural boundaries.

Youth Roles In Developing Village Economies

This research aims to analyze the role of youth as dynamic, motivating, and innovative forces in rural development planning, as well as to identify the obstacles they face. The study employs a descriptive method with a qualitative approach, using three data collection techniques: observation, interviews, and documentation. Data analysis involves data reduction, presentation, and conclusion drawing. However, there are several obstacles that hinder the youth's ability to carry out village area development, including the government's lack of concern for the development of Pegagan Julu youth and the high ego nature of the youth. The research findings indicate that youth in villages play a crucial role as dynamists, motivators, and innovators in rural development planning. However, there are several obstacles that hinder the youth's ability to carry out village area development, including the government's lack of concern for the development of Pegagan Julu youth and the high ego nature of the youth. However, there are several obstacles that hinder the youth's ability to carry out village area development, including the government's lack of concern for the development of Pegagan Julu youth and the high ego nature of the youth. It is important to address these obstacles to ensure successful rural development planning.

Measuring the localness of household expenditure in a post-socialist rural periphery

In recent years, rural development planning has increasingly focused on the commodification of local resources or the ‘localisation of rural economies’. However, there is a lack of research on how local economies work and what is the extent of local expenditure. In our analysis of more than 1,600 receipts collected in one month by 38 research participants from a Czech rural locality of Nejdek, we measure the rate of localness of their expenditures. The results show that only one quarter of expenditure was made in this locality and only 10% in the examined villages. In the case of food, more than half of the expenditure in this category was made in the locality, but more than 80% of it in local supermarkets operated by transnational retailers. Such patterns are given by the specifics of socialist agriculture and post-socialist economic restructuring and significantly reduce the potential for the economic localisation endeavour.

APPLICATION OF STRATEGIC PLANNING IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT: THE CASE OF POLAND FOR UKRAINE

The paper presents theoretical, methodological and practical principles for creating a coherent system of strategic planning, taking into account European experience in organising this process. The characteristics of the Ukraine 2020 Sustainable Development Strategy and the rural development strategy are outlined. The methodology of strategic planning is examined, analysing the system and hierarchical construction of development strategies. A general logical sequence of procedures for developing and implementing development strategies at different levels is formulated. Approaches to strategic planning for rural development are also analysed, emphasising the importance of rural development in European Union Member States and outlining sources of agricultural funding. It is noted that in the current economic conditions European countries are shifting from subsidy strategies to grant strategies for specific agricultural development programmes. The situation of strategic planning in Ukraine is presented in comparison with the Polish system, highlighting its development stages and strategic planning principles. Special attention is given to the Polish experience in multifunctional rural development planning. The aim of the paper is to study the peculiarities of the use of strategic planning for rural development in Ukraine and Poland. The research is based on the analysis of statistical data, scientific literature and strategic documents, using dialectical methods for understanding the impact of economic laws, systematic approaches to studying economic phenomena, as well as monographic, abstract-logical and abstract methods. The research findings propose recommendations for further effective planning in Ukraine based on the Polish experience. Ukraine is in the early stages of strategic planning, and monitoring and evaluation of strategies are still of a recommendatory nature. Comprehensive evaluations have not yet been included in academic publications. In this context, it would be particularly important to incorporate insights and content guidelines from Polish strategic documents in order to better conceptualise and subsequently implement new strategy editions more effectively. The research led to the development of a comprehensive and logical sequence of procedures for preparing and implementing rural development strategies at different territorial levels. The paper emphasises the priority of rural development in EU Member States. The state of strategic planning in Ukraine is compared with Poland, taking into account both stages and principles. The paper highlights the Polish experience in multifunctional rural development planning, covering three planning perspectives: 2004-2005, 2007-2013 and 2014-2020.

BOOK REVIEW: SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

The book is 168 pages thick with content full of knowledge (theoretical and practical) through various interrelated concepts in building a better livelihood framework. This book is very worth reading. This reminds that it can be understood and can be used by institutions or individuals who want and are currently carrying out development work in poverty alleviation, as well as in development studies and multidimensional rural development. This book can be read, both theoretically and practically, to encourage rural development planners and local institutions to reflect again on policies that are pro-poor, pay attention to local parameters, and voice the aspirations of the community and local institutions at a more macro level. Finally, this book gives us an understanding of the study of rural development, especially poverty alleviation through the subject's livelihood. Moreover, in elaborating Henry Bernstein's political-economy approach which can be applied from the smallest unit, such as the household to a wider spectrum, to the global realm so that it can enrich and strengthen the analysis of sustainable livelihoods at various loci. However, this book also needs to add related issues related to connectivity and discussion with the global development agenda SGDs, and needs case studies on sustainable livelihoods globally as reference material and strengthens the political economy perspective that has been described in the case study.

Conceptual concerns hindering the research of weak signals and wild cards ahead of planners

The practical search for weak signals and wild cards does not follow the explosion of scenario building in public policy designing and policymaking practices. Potential rural development planners face a number of conceptual challenges when they would engage in such research. The article takes stock of these theoretical points, which are hindering the rural development use. The detection, speed and impact of phenomena and preparation raise questions that have a decisive impact on the chosen research methodology. The article explores the need to increase the frequency of research and the follow-up activities of the foresights, as well as the subjective role of the researcher and interpreter, in the hope of inviting futures studies researchers for further research and discussion.

Livelihood Activities in Sub-Saharan Africa

In Sub-Saharan Africa and other developing regions of the world, rural communities have relied on diverse activities to earn income for their households to survive. These activities which are mostly informal, have provided casual and seasonal employment and livelihood opportunities for rural communities to cope during times of hunger and deprivation. Livelihood activities are comprised of capabilities, assets and activities required for a means of living. These include and are not limited to activities such as cropping and livestock rearing, gardening, street vending and home construction. Unfortunatly, in recent times, climate change has emerged as a challenge for not only the socio-economic setting of the poor communities, but for the whole sphere of living, particularly in rural areas. Climate Change is comprised of long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns leading to unprecedented high levels of temperatures, extreme episodes of flooding, heat waves and drought, just to mention but few. The complex nature within which rural income earning and livelihoods are found, and how such activities are in most cases depended on environmental charateristics and climatic condtitions, makes it difficult to persue, amid climate change. This theoretical paper discusses how innovation and entrepreneurship can be used to as adaptation measures for climate change. Two Case studies are used to demostrate the applicability of this assertion. The paper concludes that, for rural livelihoods to become economically viable, innovation need to be applied to build towards entrepreneuship development and climate change adaptation. The paper recommends planning and policy directives towards rural development planning in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Research on the Reconstruction Path of Rural Community in Ethnic Areas from the Perspective of the Rural Revitalization in China

Abstract The implementation of China’s rural revitalization strategy has accelerated the endogenous change of traditional villages, resulting in the restructuring of rural society in terms of geo-community, industrial community, and governance community, and the qualitative change of traditional villages in terms of culture, transportation, technology, and industry compared with the previous ones. The article focuses on a series of changes in the sense of community, which was originally built up by blood relations, as social change accelerates. This is reflected in the structural imbalance of social governance within the traditional villages, the decline of culture, the transformation of economic structure and the spatial reconstruction of the “three lives” of rural ecology and life. In terms of methodologies developed, this study has used survey, observation, and literature methods, as well as other research methods to analyze in detail the changes brought by social transformation to traditional villages, analyze the series of transformation of rural interpersonal relations, blood relations, value identity and so on in the context of social change, and analyze their causes, and at the same time put forward corresponding countermeasure suggestions. The rural revitalization strategy mainly starts from the sustainable development of the governance community, cultural community, industrial community, and spatial community of rural society, and formulates five development requirements in terms of specific measures: prosperous industry, civilized countryside, effective governance, affluent living, and pleasant ecological living. These specifics correspond to the transformation and development of communities in ethnic areas and propose more countermeasures for reconstructing them. By clarifying the connotation and logic of reconstructing the rural community in ethnic areas in China, the path of reconstructing the rural community in ethnic areas in China is constructed by starting from governance, culture, industry and space, stimulating the potential of rural cultural development while cultivating villagers’ spontaneous awareness of participating in rural governance, formulating rural industrial development plans in conjunction with the actual situation, and increasing people’s participation in rural governance in multiple forms and through multiple channels.

Measuring the level of rurality in the Southwestern region of Bangladesh

This research intends to measure and characterize the level of rurality in the southwestern region of Bangladesh using an indexing approach from functional perspective. The findings of the study can be conducive for efficient decision making related to rural development policies and planning. Besides, operational delineation of administrative units, such as Unions and Wards, is essential for the formulation and effective implementation of evidence-based development initiatives. The study has utilized the latest available population census data published by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). The results reveal that Satkhira district exhibits a higher degree of rurality (RI = 4.23) compared to Khulna (RI = 3.58) and Bagerhat (RI = 4.14) districts. This variation among the three districts is ascribed to existing rural–urban disparities. The study underscores the primary influence of socio-economic factors on the rural–urban disparities, with a secondary role for demographic and infrastructural aspects. However, education's impact was notably limited in this context. Insights on intra-district disparities infer that Khulna district exhibits significantly greater rural–urban disparities than the other two. The study also highlights the clustering of non-rural areas along major rivers. This research will assist rural planners and policy makers in understanding the specific rural dynamics of the study area, essential for tailoring fit-to-context development strategies. Moreover, the study provides a basis for classifying the region into clusters to streamline development priorities and resource allocation. Furthermore, the article presents a transferable methodology for evaluating rurality and delineating rural regions in different contexts.