Climate change is one of the major challenges of the 21st century, with widespread impacts on food security and water resources at global and regional levels . Given the constraints of water resources and the intensifying effects of climate change, the need for responsible and sustainable management has become increasingly urgent. Within this context, water users' cooperatives—grounded in participatory governance—play a pivotal role in the equitable, efficient, and enduring stewardship of water resources. This applied, descriptive-analytical study investigates the factors influencing the sustainability of water users' cooperatives in Qazvin County, based on semi-structured interviews with 14 purposively selected experts, including agricultural specialists, university faculty, and cooperative practitioners. The findings highlight the identification of causal relationships and the prioritization of sustainability drivers, with educational factors emerging as the highest priority in both fuzzy DEMATEL and hierarchical analyses. These results underscore the foundational role of education in empowering members, enhancing participation, and improving cooperative performance. Educational, policy-making, and support-related factors were found to exert the strongest influence on sustainability, while management, socio-cultural, and legal dimensions serve as complementary pillars. Causal analysis confirms that education, policy, and support act as primary drivers, shaping and reinforcing other components. The study’s findings suggest that policymakers in water and agricultural sectors should prioritize targeted training programs, strengthen institutional support mechanisms, and critically reassess interventionist policies. Achieving a balance between cooperative autonomy and governmental assistance, enhancing local management capacity, and fostering social capital through active participation are strategic imperatives for ensuring the long-term viability and effectiveness of water users' cooperatives in semi-arid regions.