Under the patronage of the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Abdulsalam Haykal, and in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, Syria witnessed the launch of a new national project titled “Smart Society.” The initiative aims to establish an institutional framework that unites the efforts of non-profit organizations active in the technology sector and supporting the country’s broader digital transformation process.
A Vision for Enhancing Digital Inclusion
The project responds to the need to organize and guide the energies of young people, associations, and technology initiatives across the various governorates. Its goal is unifying scattered efforts into practical programs with a direct impact on citizens, especially individuals with limited access to training or employment opportunities within the growing digital sector.
Minister Haykal explained that Smart Society is more than an initiative; it is an open partnership platform bringing together the government, civil society, the private sector, and academic institutions. The partnership is designed to achieve two main objectives: improve the quality of government digital services and establishing direct communication channels with citizens to understand their needs and receive their suggestions, making the digital transformation process more participatory and responsive.
Three Paths to Achieving the Vision
To accomplish these objectives, the project is built on three main operational paths. The first is an incubator for emerging technology associations, focusing on simplifying licensing procedures for youth-led technology groups and integrating them into national digital empowerment programs.
The second focuses on empowering existing associations by providing a support package which includes specialized training, development events, and active participation in governmental and social digital transformation projects.
The third path, attracting expertise, aims to draw in non-profit technology organizations, tech companies, universities, and research centers from inside and outside Syria to transfer knowledge and build cooperation, enabling the design of joint programs for developing national competencies.
The Ministries of Communications and Social Affairs and Labor will soon announce the detailed mechanisms for joining these paths, as well as the criteria required to benefit from the services and programs of Smart Society, through their official channels.
The launch of Smart Society represents a practical step toward organizing voluntary and civic technology work and transforming it into an effective partner in shaping Syria’s digital landscape, with an emphasis on inclusive growth that delivers tangible benefits to all segments of society.
