The 3ZERO House: A collaborative hub for changemakers working towards creating a 3ZERO world

Different local stakeholders like MSMEs, CSOs, citizens, activists, institutions and more can meet regularly in this hub and work together on resolving environmental, economic and/or social problems that they might face in their country.   

The 3ZERO House functions as a central hub with the mission to foster a fair social and ecological transition within a country. It achieves this by interconnecting poverty, carbon reduction, and inclusion challenges together, thereby guaranteeing the emergence of solutions that can provide enduring sustainability in underserved local communities.  

Each 3ZERO House is unique and has a dedicated mission and scope. It offers different types of activities and services based on the needs in each area or country. The 3ZERO House is managed collaboratively by various local in-house partners who roll-out different types of activities aligned with the 3ZERO objective (specific 3ZERO incubation programs, micro-financing schemes, vocational trainings, leadership coaching etc…) for a wide range of targets (social and environmental entrepreneurs, CSOs, local changemakers).  

With the help of a local 3ZERO House coordinator, the partners of the 3ZERO House work together in co-hosting events and co-creating a specific 3ZERO House agenda that they roll-out every year with specific events and activities happening every month.  

Within a 3ZERO House, you can usually find:

• Co-working spaces, offices, and event spaces
• Incubation services for entrepreneurs and CSOs
• Specific Acted trainings on capacity building with ECAT (enterprise capacity assessment tool) & GOCA (grassroot organization capacity assessment)
• Leadership & empowerment coaching with specialized experts.
• Thematic workshops and hackathons to find 3ZERO solutions and create promising innovations.
• 3ZERO events like networking sessions, national 3ZERO forums, award nights to foster connections and partnerships.
• Other specific activities related to the country’s needs and to help connect and empower local changemakers.

The 3ZERO House is implemented in countries of Acted operations to support and find solutions for and with marginalized communities.  It aims to support, equip, and empower the next generation of change-makers (CSOs, entrepreneurs, activists, citizens etc..) who want to work towards a 3ZERO world.  The 3ZERO House is meant to create long-term impact for communities in need and accelerate economic and ecological development. 

Being part of the 3ZERO House can allow partners to have a bigger international platform that they can use for 3ZERO advocacy. They also become members of the 3ZERO House network – formed by all the 3ZERO House partners in the world – which gives them access to broader networks, annual 3ZERO forums etc.  

The 3ZERO House provides a collaborative framework where members can share their financial, technical, and human resources. Financially, members can organize crowdfunding campaigns and form consortia to increase their chances of obtaining grants. They can also share costs related to resources such as rent and equipment. Technically, the house facilitates knowledge-sharing sessions, mentoring, and the organization of workshops and training sessions. It enhances the visibility of NGOs through shared communication skills and offers other shared services such as accounting, finance, or event management. In terms of human resources, member NGOs can collaborate more effectively on projects, participate in networking opportunities, scale up citizen mobilization and advocacy efforts, and collectively engage in volunteer initiatives, thus strengthening the social impact of their actions. 

By encouraging collaboration and sharing within the 3ZERO House, members can optimize the use of their resources, promote collective growth, and achieve their goals more effectively. 

• The 3ZERO House Manila
• The 3ZERO House Dushanbe
• The 3ZERO House Colombo
• The 3ZERO House Yangon
• The 3ZERO House Nairobi
• The 3ZERO House Benghazi
• The 3ZERO House Paris
• The 3ZERO European Campus / L’Hermitage Autrêches

The first 3ZERO House was launched in Manila, Philippines, in October 2019, with our local partner and co-founder of the 3ZERO Global Alliance, Gawad Kalinga (GK). The 3ZERO House is a six-storey building with more than 2,000m² located at the heart of Metro-Manila. The Manila 3ZERO House has been providing services to the public since the end of 2021. 

The house hosts a collaborative coffee-shop, with 60-seating capacity to co-working spaces; meeting rooms, business incubation; sustainability trainings; and a recording studio. All of these services will support the local ecosystem and cooperation between CSOs and social entrepreneurs.

The 3ZERO House in Dushanbe is a unique collaborative space established in December 2022 by Acted Tajikistan and Bactria Cultural Centre. It connects diverse actors from various sectors – civil society organisations, public and private sector representatives, and other agents of change – to drive the transition toward a world with Zero Exclusion, Zero Carbon, and Zero Poverty. This hub fosters innovation and pilots impactful solutions for local challenges related to climate change mitigation and adaptation, economic development, and the inclusion of vulnerable populations not only as beneficiaries but as co-creators and decision-makers. 

3ZERO House Dushanbe is centrally located in Dushanbe and features spaces for partner organizations, training, meetings, co-working areas, as well as a library, language learning classrooms, and a social cafe. 

At present, we have seven collaborative partners spanning various sectors with whom we are actively co-creating innovative initiatives, such as a tourism information center and tourism coordination platform, social entrepreneurship and creative economy programs with tailored financial instruments, youth education camps, forest and pasture management coordination mechanisms, and video production on development issues for awareness-raising and advocacy. 

In the long run, 3ZERO House Dushanbe aims to become a hub for capacity building and development for civil society organizations, creative economy as well as the center for supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises.

The 3ZERO House Colombo opened its doors in Acted Colombo premises in October 2023 to support, connect, build capacities and create new opportunities for young people and any changemaker (entrepreneurs, CSOs, students, companies) willing to tackle major challenges in Sri Lanka like waste management, gender equality, women inclusion, climate change and resilience, etc.  

The hub is built around an original concept, an awareness exhibition space on one of the major issues to address, to trigger discussions and actions. The first topic we are covering in Colombo is around the waste management issue and the circular economy.  

All the other activities that will be conducted by the 3ZERO House will be addressing this topic (Entrepreneurship programs, networking events, program co-designing etc.).  

The 3ZERO House in Yangon, Myanmar, is a community-driven space designed to tackle challenges like youth unemployment, increasing poverty, and the need for support for local civil society organizations (CSOs) and entrepreneurs. 

Launched in November 2023, the house is operated by local partners. Situated in the heart of Yangon in a century-old building, it boasts modern furnishings and easy accessibility. The two-floor setup includes a ground floor for co-working, meetings, workshops, and private sessions, while the first floor accommodates 70-80 seats for events, forums, workshops, and training. Additionally, there are private meeting spaces, a pop-up market area, and a mezzanine co-working and meeting space with 15-20 seats. 

These services aim to support the local ecosystem by fostering collaboration among CSOs, social entrepreneurs, and youth. 

3ZERO House Kenya, the first 3ZERO House established in Africa, is a collaborative hub dedicated to social, environmental and entrepreneurial innovation. Launched in Nairobi in December 2024 by Acted and its partners, it brings together civil society organisations, entrepreneurs, young leaders, institutions and private sector stakeholders to develop local solutions to the challenges of unemployment, exclusion and climate change. It provides a space where change-makers can meet, learn, experiment and collaborate to accelerate the transition towards a world of Zero Exclusion, Zero Carbon and Zero Poverty.

The 3ZERO House Kenya is located in Nairobi and features co-working, meeting and event spaces, as well as an eco-friendly restaurant and a garden that foster exchange and innovation.

It hosts support programmes for micro and small enterprises, 3ZERO hackathons, Climate Fresk workshops, training courses for young people and women, as well as networking events and dialogues on sustainable development. These activities help to build the capacity of local stakeholders and foster high-impact initiatives within communities.

3ZERO House Kenya promotes the co-creation of community-led solutions by supporting entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainable development. By building bridges between the humanitarian, environmental and economic sectors, it helps to strengthen local ecosystems and develop inclusive opportunities for the most vulnerable populations.

In the long term, 3ZERO House Kenya aims to become a leading platform for impact-driven innovation and entrepreneurship in East Africa, supporting change-makers in designing and rolling out sustainable solutions that advance the 3ZERO objectives.

The 3ZERO House Libya is a dynamic collaborative hub managed by Acted and established in Benghazi in 2025. It brings together young people, civil society organisations, artists, entrepreneurs and other change-makers to promote practical solutions for a world of Zero Exclusion, Zero Carbon and Zero Poverty.

Developed in partnership with the Libyan organisation Tanmia360, it fosters innovation, capacity-building and civic engagement to address the social, economic and environmental challenges facing the country.

The 3ZERO House Libya features co-working spaces, meeting rooms, training and conference facilities, as well as a garden, providing an environment conducive to collaboration and the emergence of local initiatives.

In particular, it offers incubation programmes for civil society organisations and start-ups, 3ZÉRO hackathons, professional development workshops, job fairs, art exhibitions and technical partnerships linking the environment, youth and culture.

In the face of challenges relating to youth unemployment, climate vulnerabilities and the strengthening of civil society, 3ZERO House Libya’s long-term ambition is to become a leading hub for social innovation, entrepreneurship and community action, by empowering young people and women to design and implement sustainable solutions that foster more resilient and inclusive communities.

3ZERO House Paris is a collaborative laboratory dedicated to impact-driven organisations and solutions, led by Acted and established in 2025. It liaises with and coordinates the global 3ZERO House network, whilst bringing together French and international change-makers – civil society organisations, entrepreneurs, institutions, researchers and private partners – to foster innovative solutions and high-impact partnerships in support of a world of Zero Exclusion, Zero Carbon and Zero Poverty.

It promotes innovation, knowledge-sharing and the development of high-impact projects through workshops, training courses, conferences, support programmes and networking events.

Located in the heart of Paris, 3ZERO House Paris offers office space, meeting rooms, training facilities and communal areas spread over nine floors, with an outdoor courtyard and two terraces. In particular, it hosts some of the activities of Convergences and serves as the headquarters of OXUS, helping to create a dynamic ecosystem where stakeholders from the fields of social innovation, sustainable development, entrepreneurship and impact finance come together.

In the long term, 3ZERO House Paris aims to strengthen synergies between change-makers in France and internationally, to support the emergence of innovative solutions and to accelerate just and sustainable transitions through the global 3ZERO network.

L’Hermitage in Autrêches is a living laboratory dedicated to ecological transition, collective intelligence and regenerative practices. Established in 2015 and also known as the European 3ZERO Campus, it brings together citizens, organisations, researchers and entrepreneurs to experiment, learn and co-create solutions for more sustainable and inclusive regions.

Situated at the intersection of nature, innovation and collective action, it fosters individual and collective transformation through immersive and practical experiences that enable the testing of new ways of organising, producing and cooperating.

L’Hermitage is situated in Autrêches, on a 30-hectare estate comprising 21 buildings, with indoor and outdoor spaces as well as shared and communal living areas. It hosts workshops and training courses on ecological practices, governance and systemic change; residencies and learning programmes for professionals and students; collaborative initiatives to rethink lifestyles and decision-making models; as well as public events and dialogues that encourage the sharing of experiences and collective inspiration.

At the heart of L’Hermitage, a living lab approach enables the testing and development of practical solutions such as low-impact lifestyles, circular economy models, sustainable food systems, regenerative land-use practices, and tools and methodologies supporting the ecological transition.

In the long term, L’Hermitage aims to strengthen its role as a leading European laboratory for regenerative practices, by supporting change-makers in the testing, dissemination and roll-out of solutions that promote sustainable ecological and social transitions.