On November 25, 2019, UNESCO's General Conference proclaimed March 4 as World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development, based on a proposal by the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO). The date marks the anniversary of the WFEO's own founding in 1968, and the day has been formally celebrated since 2020. The day highlights the central role engineers play in addressing major global challenges — from climate change and water and food security to sustainable infrastructure and digital transformation — linking this work to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. UNESCO and the WFEO, together with national engineering associations in over a hundred countries, organize annual events under a different theme each year, including conferences, student workshops, and innovation competitions aimed at encouraging young people, especially girls, to pursue engineering and science.