The Syrian Future Movement congratulates Syrian and international engineers on this international occasion, established by UNESCO in 2019 and celebrated annually on March 4th, to emphasize the crucial role of engineering in addressing the challenges of sustainable development and climate change, and in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The Syrian Future Movement sees this year’s theme, “Smart Engineering for a Sustainable Future through Innovation and Digitalization,” as a golden opportunity for a new Syria. Thanks to their competence and creativity, Syrian engineers can lead the reconstruction process in a smart and sustainable manner, leveraging digital technologies and innovation to rebuild a resilient and environmentally friendly infrastructure.
The Syrian Future Movement asserts that Syria is suffering from a severe shortage of engineering personnel due to the emigration of tens of thousands of engineers since 2011. Approximately 15,000 engineers have left the country (around 10% of the total number of registered engineers at that time, which was approximately 150,000-160,000), exacerbating the skills crisis in the infrastructure, water, and energy sectors. This necessitates urgent plans to rehabilitate and attract returning and young talent.
The Syrian Future Movement emphasizes that the material cost of Syria’s reconstruction is estimated at approximately US$216 billion (according to the latest World Bank estimates), including US$75 billion for residential buildings, US$59 billion for non-residential buildings, and US$82 billion for infrastructure. This makes the role of engineers pivotal in designing sustainable and cost-effective solutions, moving away from the traditional approach that has proven ineffective in the past.
The Syrian Future Movement calls for strengthening the participation of Syrian women in the field of engineering, where the percentage of female engineers globally does not exceed 15-20% (according to UNESCO reports). This percentage is even lower in the Syrian context due to social and security challenges. The Movement emphasizes that empowering women and youth in this sector is essential to ensuring comprehensive and equitable engineering solutions.
The Syrian Future Movement stresses that reconstruction must be a comprehensive national process, beginning with fundamental institutional reforms. These reforms should include restructuring professional associations, guaranteeing their independence, establishing a national fund to support engineering expertise, and implementing joint training programs with international organizations such as UNESCO and the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO). The Movement also emphasizes transparency in contracts and projects to prevent corruption and waste.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that Syria’s future depends on a free and innovative Syrian engineer who will build smart cities, rehabilitate water and renewable energy systems, and design infrastructure that is resilient to disasters and climate change, leading to a stable, prosperous, and sustainable Syria for all its citizens.
