Please describe your proposed solution.

The problem I aim to solve is corruption within the Cardano (Catalyst) community. Traditional politics globally fall short in addressing this issue, except for cases like Nordic countries. Norway, for instance, implemented an effective ethics code to combat corruption and undesired behaviors. Inspired by their success, I propose a similar ethics code within the Cardano community. This code will establish clear norms and principles, promoting transparency, integrity, and accountability in our decentralized governance system. By adopting this approach, we can create a reliable and fair community that values honesty, accountability, and ethical practices at all levels. The ethics code will be fundamental in ensuring long-term trust and success while mitigating the harms associated with corruption and unethical behaviors.

How does your proposed solution address the challenge and what benefits will this bring to the Cardano ecosystem?

So far, Catalyst's governance approach has been primarily focused on technology, overlooking the fact that governance systems are rooted in social and political sciences. Thus, a completely different approach is needed. Just as Ethereum failed in its technical development, we are veering off track in governance development by neglecting the involvement of social scientists, political theorists, and other professionals in the social sciences. We cannot solve human problems solely through a technical lens.

How do you intend to measure the success of your project?

We will gauge the success of our project based on the volume of contributions and reports made on the platform we will create alongside the ethics code. This platform will serve as a space for community members to report any violations of the code, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Please describe your plans to share the outputs and results of your project?

The project will be implemented through an online platform where we will document the ethics code and provide a means for reporting violations. With verifiable records to prevent manipulation and misinformation, we aim to overcome the issues of post-truth commonly seen in traditional politics. Our approach will leverage scientific tools to ensure transparency and accuracy.

What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability?

We have a proven track record within our community, co-organizing the Cardano Summit in 2021 and 2022, and being selected by the Cardano Foundation for a third consecutive year in 2023. Additionally, we successfully hosted the first Cardano Hackathon in Latin America, co-created the Latin American Cardano community, and established the first physical pool in the region (ONE1) (https://adapool.one). These contributions exemplify our commitment to advancing and supporting our community on multiple fronts.

Furthermore, we have entered into a collaborative agreement with the esteemed National Technological University, and our team includes renowned academics and representatives from the fields of political and social sciences. Together, we will develop the ethics code from a human-centered perspective, leveraging their expertise and insights.

What are the main goals for the project and how will you validate if your approach is feasible?

The main goals for the project are to address unethical behavior within the Cardano (Catalyst) community, establish an ethics code inspired by successful models like Norway, and promote transparency, integrity, and accountability. To validate the feasibility of our approach, we will measure success through the volume of contributions and reports made on the platform. We will also assess community engagement and the adoption of ethical standards. Collaborating with social scientists and leveraging scientific tools will further enhance the validity of our approach.

Please provide a detailed breakdown of your project’s milestones and each of the main tasks or activities to reach the milestone plus the expected timeline for the delivery.

Milestone 1: Development of the ethics code and online platform

• Task 1: Research and consultation with social scientists, political theorists, and experts in the field
• Task 2: Drafting and finalizing the ethics code to establish clear norms and principles
• Task 3: Development of the online platform for reporting violations and providing resources

Milestone 2: Community engagement and education

• Task 1: Launch and promotion of the online platform, raising awareness among community members
• Task 2: Conducting workshops, webinars, and educational events to educate the community about the ethics code and its importance
• Task 3: Establishing partnerships with universities and educational institutions for widespread adoption of ethical practices

Milestone 3: Implementation and monitoring of the ethics code

• Task 1: Encouraging community members to report violations and fostering a culture of accountability
• Task 2: Regular monitoring and assessment of reported violations to identify patterns and address challenges promptly
• Task 3: Periodic reviews and updates of the ethics code in response to evolving community needs and emerging ethical standards

Milestone 4: Evaluation and refinement

• Task 1: Assessing the impact of the ethics code and online platform on reducing unethical behavior within the community
• Task 2: Gathering feedback from community members and stakeholders for continuous improvement
• Task 3: Incorporating suggestions and making necessary refinements to the ethics code and platform based on the evaluation results

The expected timeline for the delivery will be as follows:

• Milestone 1: 3 months
• Milestone 2: 6 months
• Milestone 3: Ongoing implementation and monitoring
• Milestone 4: Evaluation and refinement on a regular basis, with periodic updates.

Please describe the deliverables, outputs and intended outcomes of each milestone.

Milestone 1: Development of the ethics code and online platform

Deliverables:

1. Ethics code document outlining clear norms and principles
2. Online platform for reporting violations and accessing resources

Outputs:

1. Research findings and consultations with social scientists
2. Drafted and finalized ethics code document
3. Developed online platform with reporting and resource features

Intended outcomes:

1. Establishment of a comprehensive ethics code guiding community behavior
2. Creation of a user-friendly online platform for reporting violations and accessing relevant information
3. Increased awareness and understanding of ethical standards within the community

Milestone 2: Community engagement and education

Deliverables:

1. Promotional materials for the online platform and ethics code
2. Workshop and webinar materials for community education
3. Partnerships with universities and educational institutions

Outputs:

1. Launched and promoted online platform to community members
2. Conducted workshops, webinars, and educational events
3. Established partnerships with universities and educational institutions

Intended outcomes:

1. Increased community engagement with the ethics code and online platform
2. Enhanced understanding and adoption of ethical practices among community members
3. Collaboration with academic institutions for wider adoption of ethical standards

Milestone 3: Implementation and monitoring of the ethics code

Deliverables:

1. Reporting and monitoring system for violations
2. Regular evaluations and updates of the ethics code

Outputs:

1. Community members actively reporting and addressing violations
2. Ongoing monitoring of reported violations and assessment of key patterns
3. Periodic reviews and updates of the ethics code

Intended outcomes:

1. Reduced instances of unethical behavior within the community
2. Establishment of a culture of accountability and responsibility
3. Continuous improvement of the ethics code as per emerging needs and ethical standards

Milestone 4: Evaluation and refinement

Deliverables:

1. Evaluation reports summarizing the impact of the ethics code and online platform
2. Feedback collection mechanisms from community members and stakeholders
3. Updated versions of the ethics code and online platform based on evaluation results

Outputs:

1. Assessment of the effectiveness of the ethics code and online platform
2. Feedback gathered from the community members and stakeholders
3. Revised versions of the ethics code and online platform to address identified areas of improvement

Intended outcomes:

1. Evidence-based understanding of the impact of the ethics

Please provide a detailed budget breakdown of the proposed work and resources.

1. Development of the ethics code and online platform:

• Research and consultation with social scientists: 30,000
• Drafting and finalizing the ethics code: 20,000
• Development of the online platform: 40,000 Total cost for Milestone 1: 90,000

1. Community engagement and education:

• Promotional materials for online platform and ethics code: 5,000
• Workshop and webinar materials: 15,000
• Outreach activities and partnerships with universities: 20,000 Total cost for Milestone 2: 40,000

1. Implementation and monitoring of the ethics code:

• Reporting and monitoring system for violations: 15,000

Ongoing evaluation and updates of the ethics code: 10,000 Total cost for Milestone 3: 25,000

1. Evaluation and refinement:

• Evaluation reports and feedback collection mechanisms: 10,000
• Updates and revisions of the ethics code and online platform: 15,000 Total cost for Milestone 4: 25,000

Additional Costs:

• Administrative expenses: 5,000
• Marketing and communication: 10,000
• Contingency (10% of total budget): 21,900
• Total proposed budget: 219,000

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

Jose Iadicicco - Project Leader

Kehua Yang - Master in Education - Coordination

Martin Ungar - Cardano Ambassador - Community engagement and education

Raul Kliksberg - Structural Corruption Specialist

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

1. Addressing unethical behavior: By investing in the development and implementation of an ethics code, the project aims to address and mitigate unethical behavior within the Cardano community. This ensures a more trustworthy and reliable ecosystem, which ultimately contributes to the overall reputation and credibility of Cardano.
2. Transparency and accountability: The online platform for reporting violations and accessing resources promotes transparency and accountability among community members. This helps in identifying and addressing issues promptly, fostering a culture of integrity and responsibility.
3. Long-term impact: By involving social scientists, political theorists, and experts in the field, the project takes a holistic approach to governance, recognizing the importance of social and political sciences in shaping effective governance systems. This long-term perspective ensures that the project's outcomes are sustainable and aligned with the evolving needs of the Cardano ecosystem.
4. Community engagement and education: The investment in community engagement activities, such as workshops, webinars, and partnerships with educational institutions, fosters a more informed and educated community. This empowers the community members to actively participate in the governance process, contribute meaningful insights, and make informed decisions, which in turn strengthens the Cardano ecosystem as a whole.
5. Mitigating reputational risks: By actively addressing unethical behavior and promoting transparency, the project mitigates reputational risks associated with corruption and misconduct. This helps to safeguard the Cardano ecosystem's reputation and credibility, attracting and retaining valuable participants, investors, and stakeholders.
6. Value creation and growth: The project's focus on ethics and integrity contributes to the creation of a robust and trustworthy ecosystem. This, in turn, attracts new participants, fosters collaboration, and drives innovation, ultimately leading to the growth and long-term success of Cardano.

Overall, the investment in this project represents value for money by promoting a culture of transparency, accountability, and ethics within the Cardano ecosystem. This will contribute to the ecosystem's sustainability, growth, and reputation, benefiting all stakeholders involved.