Rural development and social work intervention

Abstract

Rural development continues to face persistent challenges related to livelihood insecurity, unequal access to basic services, and social exclusion, despite sustained policy interventions. Increasingly, research highlights that these challenges are shaped not only by resource constraints but also by weaknesses in implementation processes, institutional responsiveness, and community participation. Within this context, social work intervention represents a critical yet under-examined dimension of rural development practice. This study synthesizes recent evidence to examine how social work interventions contribute to rural development outcomes and the conditions under which they are most effective. An integrative literature review was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Peer-reviewed studies published between 2020 and 2026 were systematically identified, screened, and assessed for eligibility using major academic databases. Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final synthesis. The analysis focused on identifying core social work intervention domains, associated development outcomes, and contextual factors influencing effectiveness. The findings indicate that social work interventions contribute to rural development primarily by shaping implementation pathways rather than delivering isolated services. Positive outcomes were observed in livelihood security, access to basic services, and social inclusion, particularly among women and marginalized groups. However, these outcomes were context-dependent and moderated by institutional capacity, resource availability, socio-cultural norms, geographic constraints, and crisis conditions. The study concludes that integrating social work functions into rural development strategies is essential for achieving inclusive and sustainable outcomes.