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VillageOffice
Description/achievement of initiative

Our purpose is to bring work back to where people live. The past 200 years have been a story of separation in many areas, including work. We want to write a new chapter in society, the chapter about interconnectedness. For many jobs in the developed world, it is no longer necessary to commute to a “factory” to work, as it was prior to the introduction of information technology. In Switzerland alone, 2.4 million people (50% of the workforce) could work from anywhere. Yet, we see a massive stream of commuters every day, consuming lots of energy (both in terms of natural resources and personal energy). By bringing work back to where we live, we can reduce CO2 emissions, strengthen local communities, and make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

Implementation methodologies

By 2030, 50% of all employees shall be able to work where they live. We begin the journey in Switzerland and want to become an enabler for this transition worldwide. The VillageOffice cooperative is the platform for this transition. We are connecting with the corporate world through subscriptions. We provide our know-how, the IT platform, community and financial support. We will start by running various VillageOffices flagships ourselves which will serve as a learning ground for the community.

Arrangements for Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer

We intend to build capacity and transfer technology by enabling local communities to launch and run their own VillageOffices.

Coordination mechanisms/governance structure

This initiative is governed by the VillageOffice cooperative. We are united by our purpose while coming from many different backgrounds. Recognizing that we cannot solve problems with the same mindset with which they were created, how we resolve issues is equally important as what issues we go after. We are a for-profit organization and our legal form of a cooperative binds us to reinvest our profits to best express our purpose. Our venture, self-organizing using Holacracy, strives for an evolutionary purpose which allows for the wholeness of each person. We are part of the B-Corp community and build on a network of partners sharing our values and supporting our purpose.

Partner(s)

Corporations, SME, coworking spaces, local authorities on communal, state and national level
Progress reports
Goal 3
3.6 - By 2020, halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents
Goal 8
8.2 - Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors
8.4 - Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, in accordance with the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production, with developed countries taking the lead
8.5 - By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value
8.9 - By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products
Goal 9
9.1 - Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all
9.c - Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020
Goal 10
10.2 - By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status
Goal 11
11.3 - By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries
11.a - Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning
December 2030
50% of all employees shall be able to work where they live
Dezember 2020
100 Coworking-Partner
June 2016
Pilot started
June 2017
Pilot completed
March 2019
Municipality platform live
Staff / Technical expertise
Nine highly motivated co-founders

Basic information
Time-frame: June 2016 - December 2030
Partners
Corporations, SME, coworking spaces, local authorities on communal, state and national level
Countries
Contact information
David Brühlmeier, Chairman of the Board, david.bruehlmeier@villageoffice.ch
United Nations