The federation
About WFEO
The international organisation for the engineering profession, founded under UNESCO’s auspices in 1968.
Our story
On 4 March 1968, representatives of 50 scientific and technical associations met under the auspices of UNESCO in Paris to found the World Federation of Engineering Organizations.
Today WFEO brings together national engineering organisations from some 100 nations and represents more than 30 million engineers, acting through thirteen committees and working groups and cooperating with United Nations bodies and other international organisations. Its head office is at UNESCO in Paris.
Source: wfeo.org/about-us, read 13 October 2026.
Vision and mission
Global Engineering Leadership for a Sustainable Future.
- Global policy leadership: advising governments, partner organisations and the UN system on engineering solutions to global challenges.
- Professional development: modernising engineering education, supporting lifelong learning and the global mobility of engineers.
- Ethics and inclusion: integrity, diversity and social responsibility, and advocacy that inspires youth and engages societies.
- Federation development: financial resilience, organisational effectiveness and active member engagement.
How the Strategic Plan 2026–2035 turns this into objectives and priorities
Our history
On 22 November 2019, at the Executive Council in Melbourne, WFEO launched a book on its 50-year history, with a foreword from Audrey Azoulay, then Director-General of UNESCO. The editions timeline runs from the founding to 2027.
Strategic documents
- Constitution, approved by the General Assembly on 9 March 2022 (English; Les Statuts, French)
- Rules of Procedure, approved by the Executive Council on 3 March 2026
- Statement on Operating Values and Principles, 1 March 2023
Partners and sponsors
In the UN system
- UNESCO: Official Associate status, renewed in October 2021 until 2029; Framework Agreement renewed 28 June 2024, to March 2032
- ECOSOC: accredited, as co-member of the UN Major Group for Scientific and Technological Community with ISC
- UNFCCC: partner, with side events at each COP
- UNEP: accredited, observer status
- UNIDO: consultative status
- UNISDR: consultative status
- IAEA: observer status
- ISO: Category A Liaison member
- FAO: Letter of Intent, August 2025
- ITU: member
- UN-Water: partner status
- UNU: Memorandum of Understanding, 24 October 2025
Cooperation partners
ICEE, ISTIC, IFEES, FIDIC and INWES, each with a cooperation agreement signed in March 2018.
Sponsors
Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC), supporting the H.J. Sabbagh Prize; GREE Electric Appliances, supporting the GREE Women in Engineering Award; China Association for Science and Technology (CAST).
The Strategic Plan (SP12) asks for in-kind contributions to be acknowledged too. A supporters’ section would carry every level WFEO sets, including donated services.
Source: wfeo.org/partners, Strategic Partners (staging), read 13 October 2026.
Contact
WFEO Secretariat, Maison de l’UNESCO, 1, rue Miollis, 75015 Paris, France. secretariat (at) wfeo.org.