Please describe your proposed solution.

In Nigeria and many African communities, there are savings and money lending organizations called AJO or Esusu. They are detailed in this wikipedia page, “Rotating savings and credit association

Our goal is to do an outreach campaign to these groups to research and understand the system and determine if Cardano is a good fit. We will listen to the group members for the problems they encounter and explain blockchain and help them to use Cardano wallets.

The project is divided into two phases that reflect the two groups of stakeholders.

In phase one, we will do outreach, education and onboarding with Nigerians involved in Esusu lending programs. The goal is to explain blockchain to them as well as listen to them about how the Esusu groups work and their experience. This will be invaluable information for the Cardano developers community.

Phase two is a similar outreach and education campaign for the Cardano developers community. The goal is to present the phase one research in an understandable way and answer the question - “Can Cardano smart contracts be built to effectively address the needs of Esusu groups?”

The Nigerian Esusu project will have a sustainable economic impact by providing solutions to the challenges holding back these groups from growth and scaling.

We feel there is a real need in the Esusu community which the Cardano community can uniquely address. Our team is ready, willing and able to bring these two groups together for mutual benefit.

Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community.

An initial first step is educating leaders and members of Esusu groups on the potential of Blockchain in addressing some of the challenges holding their effectiveness and growth as groups.

Ultimately, the project will create new Cardano users and onboard existing groups using Cardano DAO tools after a detailed understanding of their peculiarities.

The project will provide foundational research for anyone interested in Esusu-type rotational lending practice. We believe there is an opportunity for Cardano Developers to build and adapt tools in support of Esusu groups. There is an opportunity for Esusu groups to become Cardano DAOs. This is a win-win situation for Developers and the people engaged in Esusu.

Furthermore

• We believe the research and campaign workshops will bring together communities that require Cardano infrastructure and tools.
• Come up with a glossary of Esusu and Cardano terms which will be available for community-wide use.
• We will find and connect groups interested in collaboration with Cardano DAO tools in the specific area of financial inclusion and Esusu.
• We plan to onboard at least five (5) Esusu groups and over a hundred individual members.
• Ultimately, we would like to see a comprehensive list of tools that will help address the needs of Esusu groups.

Quantitative Metrics

1. The number of Esusu groups contacted.
2. Number of groups surveyed.
3. Number of facilitation sessions conducted.
4. The number of individuals and groups onboarded to Cardano and new wallets created.
5. Workshops with Esusu groups.
6. Workshops with the Cardano developer community.

Qualitative

1. Outreach documents detailing responses from the survey.
2. Website with research output and mailing list.
3. A glossary of Esusu terms and Cardano Blockchain terms.
4. Solutions to identified Esusu group challenges.
5. Opportunities introduced to the Cardano developer community

Glossary

The number of users of the Cardano Esusu glossary.

There will be a website with a mailing list and a place to access the materials of the project. Contact information of the team members will be available.

We will publicly share our milestone and closeout reports with the Cardano community and other interested parties.

What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

The team behind the project comes with valuable experience both within and outside of web3 and a strong commitment to delivering sustainable solutions. To ensure this is achieved, the project has been divided into phases and milestones with clear deliverables.

This proposal will fund a team of 4 persons over 7 months with 4 key milestones involving separate workshops for Esusu groups and the Cardano developers. This will ultimately provide sustainable solutions for greater productivity and growth of Esusu groups.

Ona Ohimor

The lead proposer is a finance professional and trainer. He has been in web3 for over three years, initially as a crypto enthusiast but now as a Blockchain and Web3 evangelist. He has trained and onboarded dozens of newbies to Blockchain. Besides, his passion for crypto, he is an advocate for small and growing businesses and provides functional skills training for businesses.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/onoakpomaohimor

Daniel Effiom

Daniel is an experienced fintech professional and member of the Cardano community in Nigeria.

Newman Lanier (@Newman5)

Newman has been involved in Project Catalyst since Fund7, actively participating as a member of various Catalyst Groups, including the 'DAOs love Cardano' challenge team. Trained as a facilitator and project manager, his main focus lies in documenting group activities and project planning. For the current project, he has taken on the roles of coordinator and Project Catalyst consultant.

Furthermore, collaboration and engagement with the Cardano Community as we go from one milestone to another will ensure accountability.

Goals include:

1. Detailed and documented understanding of the Esusu group's workings and challenges.
2. Exposing Cardano developers to the needs and challenges of Esusu groups.
3. Provide Blockchain and Web3 basics training to enable members to appreciate the value and benefits of adopting blockchain.
4. Get members of the groups to onboard to Cardano and utilize Cardano wallets and DAO tools.
5. Delivery of a glossary of Esusu and Cardano Blockchain terms.
6. Proffer solutions and tools that will meet the needs of Esusu groups and foster growth and greater productivity.
7. Provide foundational structures for future Blockchain solutions and tools for Esusu and similar groups.

Objectives include:

1. A public website with research links and relevant documentation
2. Plan and deliver research and outreach workshops to Esusu groups
3. Plan and deliver research and outreach workshops to Cardano groups
4. Create an Esusu / Cardano glossary

As part of validating our approach, we will ensure initial and continued engagements with all relevant stakeholders and the Cardano Community for feedback.

What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Prepare, Promotion and Informational Sessions

Month 1

• Team formation with roles and responsibilities
• Project management setup. Establish Communication and documentation methods (Discord, Asana, project management tools. Also a documentation plan).
• Preliminary survey of Esusu groups - finding groups and building the survey
• Preliminary survey of Cardano Developer groups - finding groups and build the survey
• Website creation
• Progress reporting (for Project Catalyst and Group members)

Month 2

• Promote workshops - asynchronous (Social Media, Adwords / paid Ad campaigns)
• Promote workshops - synchronous (live presentations, After TownHall, AMA on Forums and Twitter spaces)
• Prepare and deliver Esusu information session.
• Prepare and deliver Cardano Developer information session 1 hour
• Gather feedback
• Create an insights report on all informational sessions
• Progress reporting (for Project Catalyst and Group members)

Month 1

Deliverables:

• Website
• Team member mailing list and social media accounts
• Project Management Documents
• Surveys for collecting information and feedback
• Preliminary list of Esusu groups
• Preliminary List of Cardano Developers
• Milestone report

Month 2

Deliverables:

• Promotional campaign documents and records
• Esusu group mailing list
• Information sessions: agenda, presentation and feedback
• Summative Evaluation Report for information sessions
• Milestone report

>Esusu Groups Workshops

Month 3-4

• Design, Develop and implement Blockchain education for Esusu groups. Esusu workshops (3 hour) At least two workshops. At least 5 Esusu groups (15 to 25 people)

Month 3-4

Deliverables:

• Esusu workshop materials: agenda, video, training records, feedback
• Milestone report

>Cardano Developers Workshops

Month 5 - 6

• Outreach to blockchain / Cardano Developers interested Esusu opportunities
• Design, Develop and implement “Cardano DAO tooling for Esusu” feasibility workshop. Cardano Developer workshops (3 hour)
• At least two workshops. At least 5 developer groups (15 to 25 people)

Month 5 - 6

Deliverables:

• A glossary of Esusu and Cardano financial terminology
• workshop materials: agenda, video, training records, feedback documentation.
• Milestone report

>Finalize and Close out

Month 7

• Finish development of glossary
• Finalize project
• Create closeout report and video

Month 7

Deliverables:

• Closeout report and video
• “Cardano DAO tooling for Esusu groups” - Feasibility analysis document

Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

Ona Ohimor

Project Lead

Responsible for project implementation, Training facilitation

Daniel Effiom

Project Team Member

Project Assistant and Reporting.

Newman Lanier

Project Advisor and Consultant

Ona Ohimor

The lead proposer is a finance professional and trainer. He has been in web3 for over three years, initially as a crypto enthusiast but now as a Blockchain and Web3 evangelist. He has trained and onboarded dozens of newbies to Blockchain. Besides, his passion for crypto, he is an advocate for small and growing businesses and provides functional skills training for businesses.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/onoakpomaohimor

Daniel Effiom

Daniel is an experienced fintech professional and member of the Cardano community in Nigeria.

Newman Lanier (@Newman5)

Newman has been involved in Project Catalyst since Fund7, actively participating as a member of various Catalyst Groups, including the 'DAOs love Cardano' challenge team. Trained as a facilitator and project manager, his main focus lies in documenting group activities and project planning. For the current project, he has taken on the roles of coordinator and Project Catalyst consultant.

Furthermore, collaboration and engagement with the Cardano Community as we go from one milestone to another will ensure accountability.

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources.

Milestone 1 (Months 1-2)

Team formation. ₳2,000

Social media tools. ₳3,000

Workshop promotion. ₳4,000

Website. ₳2,000

Team Salary. ₳6,000

(Consultant, Lead, 2 Assistants)

Milestone 1 Total ₳17,000

Milestone 2 (Months 3-4)

Deliver 5 Esusu workshops ₳6,000

ADA for new wallets. ₳5,000

Team Salary. ₳12,000

Milestone 2 Total ₳23,000

Milestone 3 (Month 5-6)

Deliver 2 Developer workshops ₳5,000

Deliver Cardano tools (Prototype) ₳15,000

Team Salary. ₳12,000

Milestone 3 Total ₳32,000

Milestone 4 (Month 7)

Esusu/Cardano Glossary. ₳8,000

Follow up Developer workshop ₳3,000

Closeout Report/video. ₳3,000

Team Salary. ₳6,000

Milestone 4 Total ₳20,000

Milestone 1 - ₳17,000 (18%)

Milestone 2 - ₳23,000 (25%)

Milestone 3 - ₳32,000 (34%)

Milestone 4 - ₳20,000 (22%)

Grand Total - ₳92,000

How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

This proposal will fund:

• A team of 4 people - spread across Nigeria and North America.
• Development over 7 months and 4 milestones
• 7 workshops (live and online): 5 for the Esusu groups and 2 for the Cardano Developer groups
• Promotion campaigns
• Facilitated, scientific user research and reporting Esusu / Cardano glossary
• In order to form the basis of further partnership and development on Esusu and Cardano

With the following expected outcomes, the project is value for money:

• Promotion of Cardano Blockchain and DAO tools to Esusu groups in Nigeria.
• Creations of wallets of people new to Blockchain and Cardano users.
• Esusu groups as a Cardano use case.
• Potential large market adoption
• A new style of DAO and financial inclusion and protection
• New DAOs brought to Cardano
• Partnerships and Collaboration among Cardano groups and tools