Please describe your proposed solution

Project Background

Our team is nearing completion of the initial phase of our project, funded through Fund 11, aimed at addressing a significant challenge in Africa. During our journey, we've noted several projects supported by Catalyst, particularly during the "Grow Africa, Grow Cardano" challenge in Funds 8 and 9. However, a crucial question persists: What progress or impact have these initiatives made within Catalyst and the Cardano community? Specifically, we aim to assess the average number of people onboarded into the ecosystem as developers, proposers, or reviewers as a result of these projects. Are there signs of progress in terms of the number of funded projects from Africa, and what level of partnerships and Cardano infrastructure adoption have resulted from these initiatives? These are just a few of the questions our team seeks to address with this initiative. At a minimum, we should quantify metrics such as the number of individuals onboarded and the adoption rate of Cardano infrastructure by various stakeholders. Additionally, tracking metrics related to community engagement, such as the number of individuals onboarded as developers, advocates, or reviewers, is essential.

In response to the challenge of assessing the progress, impact and success of Catalyst-funded projects in Africa, we're in the process of completing the development of our web-based platform (funded in fund 11) to streamline data for project monitoring and tracking. This hub serves as a centralized repository, aggregating information from diverse sources and providing stakeholders with insights into project outcomes, progress, and impact. The initial phase focused on establishing the infrastructure and functionalities of the hub, laying the groundwork for future expansion and enhancement.

Proposed Expansion

Building upon the success of the initial phase, we propose to expand the Project Catalyst Hub to enable comprehensive data gathering, sorting, and analysis from Fund 5 to Fund 11 projects. This expansion will empower stakeholders with enhanced insights, enabling informed decision-making, trend identification, and community engagement within the Cardano ecosystem. In this phase, we embark on a meticulous research endeavor to facilitate data gathering, sorting, and analysis of funded African projects from Fund 5 to Fund 11 within the Catalyst ecosystem. This comprehensive initiative aims to establish a robust framework for acquiring, organizing, and interpreting project data, thereby enhancing the Project Catalyst Hub's capacity to deliver actionable insights and facilitate informed decision-making. The proposed expansion represents a significant advancement in our efforts to empower stakeholders with actionable insights and facilitate data-driven decision-making within the Catalyst ecosystem. Through meticulous research work encompassing data gathering, sorting, and analysis, we aim to elevate the Project Catalyst Hub into a powerful tool for driving positive change and fostering community engagement in Africa and beyond. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and integrity throughout this endeavor, and we look forward to the transformative impact it will bring to the Catalyst community. The expansion of the Project Catalyst Hub represents a significant opportunity to further enhance transparency, accountability, and impact assessment within the Cardano ecosystem. We will employ a collaborative approach, involving stakeholders from the Cardano community to ensure that the hub meets their needs and effectively serves the Cardano ecosystem. This hub will serve as a central repository of information, providing stakeholders with a single, easy-to-navigate platform to:

• Discover and learn about funded projects: Stakeholders will be able to browse a searchable database of all funded projects in Africa, filtering by sector, location, and other relevant criteria.

• Track project progress: Project updates, including deliverables, milestones, and achievements, will be regularly updated on the hub's project pages.

• Measure project impact: The hub will provide dashboards and reports that track the impact of funded projects, including metrics such as social impact, economic impact, and technological impact.

• Share project stories: The hub will feature success stories, testimonials, and videos from project teams and beneficiaries, showcasing the positive impact of funded projects on individuals and communities.

By leveraging advanced data gathering, sorting, and analysis techniques, the expanded hub will empower stakeholders with actionable insights, driving informed decision-making and community engagement. We are excited about the potential of this expansion to catalyze positive change in Africa and beyond, and we look forward to your support in realizing this vision.

The key components of the expansion include:

1. Research Work for Data Gathering

• Comprehensive Data Identification
• Thorough Data Procurement
• Ethical Considerations

2. Research Work for Data Sorting

• Strategic Categorization
• Algorithmic Development
• User-Centric Design

3. Research Work for Data Analysis

• Analytical Framework Development
• Visualization and Reporting
• Predictive Modeling
• User Engagement
• Platform Monitoring

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

Benefits

The main benefits of this project to the Cardano Catalyst ecosystem include:

Centralized Information Access

• Stakeholders will have a unified platform to access comprehensive and up-to-date information on funded projects in Africa.
• Eliminates the need to rely on scattered sources, saving time and providing a consolidated view of project progress.

Enhanced Visibility and Awareness

• The hub will increase the visibility of funded projects, attracting new participants to Project Catalyst.
• Raises awareness within the wider Cardano community about the positive impact of projects on the African continent.

Informed Decision-Making

• Stakeholders can make informed decisions by easily discovering, tracking, and measuring the success and impact of funded projects.
• Identifies trends, success factors, and areas for improvement, contributing to more effective decision-making within the Cardano ecosystem.

Community Engagement and Collaboration

• Fosters collaboration by involving stakeholders from the Cardano community in the development and maintenance of the hub.
• Encourages community engagement through a collaborative approach to ensure the hub meets the needs of the Cardano ecosystem.

Comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation

• The hub provides a centralized platform for monitoring and tracking project deliverables, milestones, and achievements.
• Offers dashboards and reports to measure the social, economic, and technological impact of funded projects.

Storytelling and Showcasing Success

• Showcases success stories, testimonials, and videos, creating a positive narrative around funded projects.
• Highlights the tangible and positive impact of projects on individuals and communities, fostering a sense of accomplishment within the Cardano community.

Scalable and Replicable Model

Establishes a scalable model that can be replicated in other regions, further expanding the impact and reach of Project Catalyst globally.

Sets a precedent for creating similar hubs in different locations, contributing to the growth and success of the Cardano ecosystem.

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?

ACCOUNTABILITY AND CAPACITY

Our initial project was funded in fund level (for reference : https://projectcatalyst.io/funds/11/cardano-open-developers/cardano-impact-tracking-hub). Our team is on track to completing the website design and development. This confirms our the community's level of trust reposed in us. Again, we have experienced and qualified individuals with a proven track record of success in developing and delivering complex projects. We are also committed to transparency and accountability in all aspects of our work. Upon winning the first funding, our project is progressing smoothly as we're in the website development stage. Reference:

To validate the feasibility of our approach, we employ the following strategies:

1. Pilot Testing: Before full-scale implementation, we conduct pilot tests to validate the effectiveness and feasibility of our approach. These pilot tests allow us to identify potential challenges, refine our methodologies, and assess scalability, ensuring that our approach is practical and viable in real-world scenarios.
2. Stakeholder Consultation: We engage stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle to gather insights, solicit feedback, and address concerns. By consulting with stakeholders, including project beneficiaries, funders, and domain experts, we validate the relevance and feasibility of our approach, ensuring alignment with stakeholders' needs and expectations.
3. Risk Assessment: We conduct comprehensive risk assessments to identify potential obstacles, uncertainties, and dependencies that may impact project execution. By proactively addressing risks and developing contingency plans, we mitigate potential barriers to success and enhance the feasibility of our approach.
4. Continuous Monitoring and Evaluation: Throughout project implementation, we establish monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track progress, measure outcomes, and identify areas for improvement. By continuously monitoring project performance and outcomes, we validate the feasibility of our approach, making adjustments as needed to ensure successful project delivery.

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

Milestone 1: Milestone 1: Research Work for Data Gathering

Milestone Output: Comprehensive data identified and procured for Fund 5 to Fund 11 projects within the Catalyst ecosystem.

Acceptable Criteria:

All relevant project-related information cataloged from diverse sources.

Access secured to primary and secondary data sources.

Compliance with relevant regulations and guidelines ensured throughout the process.

Budget Allocation: ADA for research personnel, data acquisition costs, and compliance measures.

Milestone 2: Milestone 2: Research Work for Data Sorting

Milestone Output: Robust sorting mechanisms developed to categorize projects based on key parameters.

Acceptable Criteria:

Systematic categorization approach devised and implemented.

Algorithmic development for automated categorization ensuring accuracy and scalability.

User feedback integrated into the design process for enhanced usability.

Budget Allocation: ADA for algorithm development, user testing, and refinement.

Milestone 3: Milestone 3: Research Work for Data Analysis

Milestone Output: Sophisticated analytical tools and methodologies developed to derive actionable insights.

Acceptable Criteria:

Analytical framework designed and implemented, encompassing relevant metrics and indicators.

Intuitive dashboards and reports created for effective communication of insights.

Predictive analytics capabilities explored and implemented for forecasting and optimization.

Budget Allocation: ADA for tool development, visualization techniques, and predictive modeling.

Additional Considerations:

Final Milestone: Close out report

Close out video

OUTPUT

• To create Close out report
• To create Close out video

ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA

• Evidence of Close out report
• Evidence of Close out video

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

In addition to our core team of experienced professionals, we intend to hire additional staff to bolster our project's capacity and expertise. These new team members will bring fresh perspectives, specialized skills, and diverse experiences to our project, enriching our collective knowledge and capabilities.

Asare Emmanuel - Researcher and Administrator

Emmanuel is currently a National Service Person at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ GmbH) Ghana, after a successful completion of his Bachelor's degree in Commerce, Accounting at the University of Cape Coast, UCC. He worked as a part-time administrative assistant at a firm called Concomitant Initiatives Ltd. His roles included scheduling and reminding the CEO of meetings, taking minutes of daily meetings, as well as filing, typing, and copying files related to research projects. He also interned with the Audit section of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) at the North Kaneshie Area Branch. During his internship, he learned about the practical aspects of audit procedures and how to use Excel to enter and format client details. Finally, Emmanuel interned at Npontu Technologies in Accra. He was tasked with producing a manual for a newly developed enterprise resource planning (ERP) system called Kedebah.

www.linkedin.com/in/asare-emmanuel-26146b218

Innocent Norvinu

Innocent Norvinu is a blockcbhain enthusiast who holds a degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Professional Studies in Ghana. He is the co-founder of Gateway to Blockchain and has previously contributed his expertise as a Marketing Specialist at Tech Markets Solutions. His extensive background, spanning over 7 years in the finance industry, includes roles as a Risk and Compliance Officer. He has been an active member of the community, having served as a Fund 7, 8, and 9 Community Advisor, a voter, and a proponent for two community-funded and executed projects. He participated as a Fund 10 Challenge Team Member.

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Personnel Costs:

Research Team (4 members x 12 months): 20,000

Hiring of other personnel (1 member x 12 months)

Data Acquisition and Procurement:

Data collection, sorting and analysis (including any subscriptions fee for data analysis tool): 12,000

other expenses for Data Collection: 1,000

Data analytic tool and algorithm Development :

Software Development (for sorting algorithms, analytical tools, and visualization): 5,000

Licensing Fees (for specialized software tools, if required): 4,000

User Engagement and Platform Monitoring:

Stakeholder Engagement Activities: 4,500

Project management : 10000

Monitoring Tools and Software: 5,000

Contingency (10% of Total Budget): 2,500

Total Budget Proposal: 64000

NO

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

COST OF THE PROJECT

Ensuring cost-effectiveness and maximizing value for the Cardano ecosystem is at the forefront of our project proposal. With meticulous consideration of prevailing market prices, our budget breakdown reflects an accurate representation of the resources required. We understand the inherent volatility of ADA prices and have factored in this fluctuation when devising our budget, guaranteeing its adaptability to changes in the price levels of ADA. By incorporating strategies that are mindful of cryptocurrency market dynamics, we have pegged our allocated budget amount to a price between 0.35 and 0.40. Therefore, we believe the budget remains resilient and capable of supporting the successful implementation of our project, regardless of any variations in the price levels of the Cardano coin.

Beyond financial considerations, our project offers substantial value to the Cardano ecosystem. By harnessing the transformative potential of blockchain technology and the Cardano platform, our project aims to deliver sustainable and long-lasting benefits, creating a positive ripple effect for the Cardano community and its stakeholders. We are confident that the value generated by our project surpasses the allocated budget, representing a compelling proposition for the Cardano ecosystem.