Cultural, social and media sectors within reconstruction process

Although meeting basic needs of Syrian people is now a big challenge to the government and decision-makers due to the continuity of terror attacks and sanctions imposed on Syria, reconstruction process could not be postponed anymore.

When we speak about reconstruction process in Syria we speak about reconstruction in all sectors- agriculture, economy, society, culture, media, health, transport, building..etc- and from all aspects. All these sectors have been damaged by the 44-month-old crisis.

The damages are not restricted to material losses that reached up to $220 billion according to recent UN report.

Therefore, there must be a comprehensive national plan for reconstruction based on accurate analysis and description for the current situation.

In this report, we will shed light on the topic of ‘cultural, social and media development’ that was discussed yesterday during the national conference held between November 24-25 on “role of scientific and research institutes in reconstruction process.” 

Syria lacks research centers  

“Syria lacks specialized research centers to perform scientific studies in field of social and cultural development despite the fact that it has a reach civilized heritage,” Director General of the Book Commission Dr. Waddah al-Khateb said, adding that the specialized centers can discover and explain the reasons of any social and cultural problem before its spread.   

He referred to dysfunction between independent traditional social forces, State policies and institutes.

Dr. al-Khateb sees that transparent scientific research and coordination between all concerned circles would enhance reconstruction process in social and cultural fields.

Syria’s population estimated 22.5 million

The essential factor that must be taken into consideration when we talk about reconstruction process is demography, according to Dean of the Higher Population Institute Dr. Akram al-Qesh. 

“The process of reconstruction is a process of construction and development and it necessitates a clear vision and plans at national and regional levels,” he clarified, stressing that demographic change affects services policy.

“Syria’s population estimated 22.5 million; about 3.5 million of them have been forced to leave the country. However, one third of the population were internally displaced inside the country.”       

“Population statistics during the crisis were estimated in accordance with scientific methods,” Dr.al-Qesh confirmed.

Breadwinning woman

On her part, Dr. Saja Taha al-Zoubi, Head of Socio-Economic Studies Research Department at the General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research talked about “challenges the face Syrian woman in the light of current crisis.”

She focused on how to help the Syrian women that became breadwinners because of the absence of men for different reasons.  

“Reactivating the small business loans projects that are commensurate with current circumstances is the best solution to improve the situation of woman and her family,” Dr. al-Zoubi told the Syriatimes’ reporter, noting that some world programs and development agencies such as the Aga Khan Development Network, are ready to offer business loans for small projects.

She suggested the implementation of ‘solidarity group lending’, offering consultations, supporting available marketing services to market the products of the small projects. 

Dr. al-Zoubi also underscored the need for training and rehabilitating women, especially the displaced ones, through programs that meet their psychological, health and social needs.

“Woman’s participation in the process of national development and reconstruction is a key to solving the crisis in Syria,” She concluded.

Contradictions

Actually, changing the common mentality towards woman, family, children and society requires an active role by media outlets, which include a lot of contradictions, according to Dr. Nahla Issa from Faculty of Information.

 “There is a gap between people and local media outlets which are still mouthpiece of government and lack skills of covering the events in Syria,” she said, noting that media now produces events and has big impact on people.

Dr. Issa asserted the importance of drawing up a national strategic plan for media to confront the war being waged on Syria and to contribute to reconstruction process.

Psychological treatment

On the sideline of the conference, The Syriatimes’ reporter interviewed a member of the scientific committee in the conference Dr. Aysar al-Maidani, who is a chairperson of NOSTIA [Network of Syrian Scientists, Technologists and Innovators Abroad] to talk about the reconstruction process.

She said: “The opening ceremony reflects the Syrian government’s interest in cooperation between research centers and the ministries to reconstruct Syria and to draw up a strategy for reconstruction and development.”

“Each institute is looking forwards to put hand in the hand of the other institute to reach solutions to reconstruct the homeland,” Dr. al-Midani said, stressing that the working papers presented by the participants included practical proposals and modern technology.

“We know that there is an interaction between the place and the psychology. People have suffered of horrible acts, so we have to treat the psychology of people by light and green lands and artistic creation,” she said, asserting that psychological treatment must synchronize with rebuilding process.

“The conference aims to collect ideas that serve reconstruction process and development in Syria,” Dr. al-Midani clarified.

Weak and strong points

Eng. Majd Mustafa, Deputy Director of Studies Company, told us that reconstruction process requires strong cooperation between government and civil society and private sector.

“The conference is a good opportunity to know the weak and strong points in each sector,” she added.

Knowledge

Dr. Abed Fadeleh, Dean of Administrative Sciences Faculty at the private ‘al-Sham’ University, told us that knowledge is essential in achieving development in all sectors.

“Investment of knowledge means to invest scientific research to achieve development in all sectors. The economic growth is measured by the Gross Domestic Product, which is an added value. And there is a connection between knowledge and the added value,” He said.

Dr. Fadeleh, in addition, clarified that building up skilled administration has a key role in sustainable development and could be linked with formation of administrative development units in the ministries.

To sum up, the implementation of the proposals of the 27 public and private institutes that took part in the reconstruction conference will be subject to the ability to fund the process.

Reported by : Basma Qaddour