Please describe your proposed solution

Identifying the Problem

The proposed solution addresses the critical issue of low participation in Cardano’s governance within West and East Africa. By organizing interactive workshops, we aim to educate community members about the governance bodies—DReps, the Constitutional Committee, intersect and SPOs and how they function. This approach demystifies the governance process, making it accessible and understandable, thus empowering individuals to engage actively in decision-making.

Target Audience

Our workshops will specifically target local communities, including developers, educators, and Cardano enthusiasts, creating a diverse participant base. By fostering dialogue and collaboration, we will cultivate a sense of ownership among attendees, encouraging them to take an active role in Cardano’s governance.

Impact Measurement

To demonstrate our impact, we will implement a structured feedback mechanism to assess participants' understanding and engagement levels before and after the workshops. Additionally, we will track the increase in participation rates in governance activities, such as votes delegation to DReps or contributing to proposals, to evaluate the effectiveness of our educational efforts.

Unique Aspects and Importance

What sets this solution apart is its focus on localized, community-driven education, which is crucial for the sustainable growth of Cardano’s governance model. By enhancing understanding and participation among communities in West and East Africa, we not only contribute to the immediate needs of these regions but also enrich the global Cardano ecosystem with diverse perspectives. This initiative is vital for building a robust, inclusive, and resilient governance framework that reflects the values and aspirations of all Cardano stakeholders.

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

Positive Impact on the Cardano Community

The project aims to significantly enhance community engagement in Cardano's governance across West and East Africa. By empowering local members with knowledge about governance structures—such as DReps, the Constitutional Committee, and SPOs—we will cultivate a more informed and active user base. This will ultimately lead to increased participation in governance activities, thereby enriching the Cardano ecosystem with diverse perspectives and contributions.

Measuring Impact

To measure the impact, we will employ both quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitatively, we will track participation rates in governance-related activities before and after the workshops, analyzing the number of attendees who become active to governance activities or contribute to proposals etc. Qualitatively, we will gather feedback through surveys to assess participants' understanding of governance concepts and their confidence in engaging with Cardano’s governance process.

Sharing Outputs

We plan to share our findings and outputs through various channels. Workshop summaries, participant testimonials, and data analysis will be published on our website and shared within the Cardano community via social media platforms and newsletters. Additionally, we will collaborate with Intersect and other community organizations to present the outcomes at relevant events and forums, ensuring that our insights and opportunities for further engagement reach a broader audience. By doing so, we will contribute to building a vibrant, participatory governance culture within 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?

As a dedicated Cardano ambassador, I am committed to delivering this project with high levels of trust and accountability. My active involvement in the Cardano community has provided me with a solid understanding of its technology and principles, ensuring that the project aligns with the values and vision of the Cardano ecosystem.

My contributions are well-known and appreciated within the community, which fosters trust in my capability to lead this initiative.

My experience includes hosting and coordinating several governance workshops in both Ghana and Kenya. Notably, I played a key role in the Intersect regional hub launch events in both countries and was part of the organizing team for the constitutional workshops held in Ghana and Kenya.

Recently, I co-hosted the Intersect Annual Members Meeting (AMM) in Ghana, in Accra and Nalerigu, and assisted in coordinating the event in Kenya. These experiences demonstrate my team’s ability to execute workshops effectively when funded.

To validate the feasibility of this project, we will leverage feedback and insights from previous workshops to tailor our approach to community needs.

Additionally, we will establish metrics for success, including participation rates, participant feedback, and the number of individuals actively engaging in Cardano governance post-workshops. This systematic approach will ensure our initiatives are not only impactful but also sustainable within the broader Cardano community.

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

Milestone 1: Hosting First Governance Workshop in Ghana

Outputs:

• Successful planning and execution of the first governance workshop with 50 participants in Ghana.
• Engaging agenda including presentations on Cardano's governance bodies (DReps, CC, SPOs) and interactive Q&A sessions.
• Handout summarizing key topics and discussion points for participants.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Confirmation of venue booking and logistical arrangements.
• Attendance of at least 50 participants at the workshop.
• Positive feedback from attendees regarding the workshop's relevance and engagement.

Evidence of Milestone Completion:

• Pictures and video clips showcasing the workshop.
• Submission of a post-workshop report to Catalyst, including participant numbers and feedback collected.

Milestone 2: Hosting Second Governance Workshop in Ghana

Outputs:

• Successful planning and execution of the second governance workshop with 50 participants in Ghana.
• Engaging agenda including case studies and breakout discussions focused on practical applications of Cardano's governance.
• Handout summarizing insights and action points from discussions.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Confirmation of venue booking and logistical arrangements.
• Attendance of at least 50 participants at the workshop.
• Collection of feedback indicating at least 80% satisfaction from attendees.

Evidence of Milestone Completion:

• Pictures and video clips showcasing the workshop.
• Submission of a post-workshop report to Catalyst, detailing participant feedback and key takeaways.

Milestone 3: Hosting First Governance Workshop in Kenya

Outputs:

• Successful planning and execution of the first governance workshop with 50 participants in Kenya.
• Engaging agenda including presentations on governance processes and community involvement strategies.
• Handout summarizing discussion topics and relevant resources for further learning.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Confirmation of venue booking and logistical arrangements.
• Attendance of at least 50 participants at the workshop.
• Positive feedback from attendees on the effectiveness of the content delivered.

Evidence of Milestone Completion:

• Pictures and video clips showcasing the workshop.
• Submission of a post-workshop report to Catalyst, including participant engagement metrics and insights gathered.

Final Milestone: Hosting Second Governance Workshop in Kenya

Outputs:

• Successful planning and execution of the second governance workshop with 50 participants in Kenya.
• Engaging agenda featuring expert speakers and panel discussions on Cardano's governance evolution.
• Handout summarizing expert insights and actionable strategies for community engagement.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Confirmation of venue booking and logistical arrangements.
• Attendance of at least 50 participants at the workshop.
• Collection of feedback indicating high levels of engagement and satisfaction.

Evidence of Milestone Completion:

• Pictures and video clips showcasing the workshop.
• Submission of a post-workshop report to Catalyst, detailing participant feedback and outcomes of discussions.
• Preparation of close-out reports and videos to indicate successful project completion

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

Jeremiah Baani is the team Lead of the project and a Cardano Ambassador in Ghana. He is also the founder for Cardano Africa Academy. He has held over 15 cardano major meetups in Ghana and beyond and have exposed over 1000 students to the cardano Blockchain and its opportunities across Ghana over the past two years. Click me

He also launched the Cardano Kenya community in April, 2024.

He has trained close to over 50 active proposal assessors and VPAs from previous catalyst funding rounds through his in person and virtual workshops.

He is an IT professional and educator, and also the CEO of a small IT startup, Center for Technology Education and Innovation Lab-Cteil.

He hosted the Cardano summits 2022 & 2023 community led event in Tamale and Kumasi respectively.

• Email: [email protected]
• check out my X handle: click here
• Check out some shots from my Cardano Events: click here
• check out excerpts of my hosting of the Cardano summit 2022: click here
• Excerpts from Kenya Cardano Community Launch: Click here

Afia Owusu

A member of Wada community and active Cardano and Catalyst Community Member since Fund 6, Coordinator of Catalyst Africa Town Hall (CATH) and Accra Resource Centre. Afia has been a CA since F7 and a vCA in F8. Afia holds an MSc in Management Information Systems from the University of Lancaster, UK, and a BSC. (Hons) in Natural Resources Management, University of Science and Technology (UST), Kumasi, Ghana. Afia is a Ghanaian, currently exploring new areas of sustainable development including blockchain education. Her interest is to educate and create awareness in communities to improve livelihood options among local people.

She will play a key role as a resource person in our meetup that will be held in Ghana.

<https://www.linkedin.com/in/afia-owusu-04911816/>

X: @AfiaOwusu13

Benjamin Baani

Real Estate Professional

Founder and host of Cardano Assembly Town Hall (CATH)

A cardano community event enthusiast and was a speaker at the 2022 Cardano Summit in Tamale, Ghana.

Challenge Team lead for Startups &amp; Onboarding for Students in F10 and the Team lead for the F11 Group E Proof of Live (PoL) verifiers.

X: click here

Benjamin will directly work with the operations team for successful events.

Herine Omollo

She is a coordinating lead of Cardano Kenya Community. She was a reviewer in F10 and a moderator in F11.She hosted the catalyst working group workshop Nairobi 2024. She co-hosted the first meetup for cardano Kenya Community in 2024 as well. She has also hosted a series of governance workshops in Kenya which include, Intersect regional hub launch, constitution workshop among others. This presents

She will make preparations with the Kenya team by ensuring all plans and partnerships are perfectly executed for successful events in Kenya.

https://x.com/JoyyLizz?t=jBxRLs35BspYiXRCxUEi1w&amp;s=08

Additional Team formation:

We will constitute an additional team to help in facilitating and coordinating for the success of the events (Ghana &amp; Kenya).

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Budget for Milestone 1: Hosting First Governance Workshop in Ghana (₳15,000)

1.Venue and Logistics (₳4,500)

• Venue rental for 3 hours
• Equipment setup (projector, sound system)
• Refreshments and meals for 50 participants
• Swag items

2. Travel and Accommodation (₳3,000)

• Transportation for facilitators and speakers
• Accommodation for the team

3. Materials and Handouts (₳2,000)

• Printing costs for handouts
• Stationery

4. Coordination &amp; Team Motivation (₳2,500)

• Team coordination efforts
• Team motivation and stipends

5. Promotional Materials (₳2,000)

• Marketing and outreach
• Photography and video documentation for evidence

6.Contingency (₳1,000)

Budget for Milestone 2: Hosting Second Governance Workshop in Ghana (₳15,000)

1.Venue and Logistics (₳4,500)

• Venue rental for 3 hours
• Equipment setup (projector, sound system)
• Refreshments and meals for 50 participants

2. Travel and Accommodation (₳3,000)

• Transportation for facilitators and speakers
• Accommodation for the team

3. Materials and Handouts (₳2,000)

• Printing costs for handouts
• Stationery

4. Coordination &amp; Team Motivation (₳2,500)

• Team coordination efforts
• Team motivation and stipends

5. Promotional Materials (₳2,000)

• Marketing and outreach
• Photography and video documentation for evidence

6.Contingency (₳1,000)

Budget for Milestone 3: Hosting First Governance Workshop in Kenya (₳18,000)

1. Venue and Logistics (₳5,000)

• Venue rental for 3 hours
• Equipment setup (projector, sound system)
• Refreshments and meals for 50 participants

2. Travel and Accommodation (₳4,000)

• Transportation for facilitators and speakers
• Accommodation for the team

3. Materials and Handouts (₳2,500)

• Printing costs for handouts
• Stationery

4. Coordination &amp; Team Motivation (₳3,000)

• Team coordination efforts
• Team motivation and stipends

5. Promotional Materials (₳2,000)

• Marketing and outreach
• Photography and video documentation for evidence

6.Contingency (₳1,500)

Budget for Milestone 4: Hosting Second Governance Workshop in Kenya (₳20,000)

1. Venue and Logistics (₳7,000)

• Venue rental for 3 hours
• Equipment setup (projector, sound system)
• Refreshments and meals for 50 participants
• Branded Swag items

2. Travel and Accommodation (₳5,000)

• Transportation for facilitators and speakers
• Accommodation for the team

3. Materials and Handouts (₳2,000)

• Printing costs for handouts
• Stationery

4. Coordination &amp; Team Motivation (₳3,000)

• Team coordination efforts
• Team motivation and stipends

5.Promotional Materials (₳2,000)

• Marketing and outreach
• Photography and video documentation for evidence

6.Contingency (₳1,000)

Total Budget:

₳15,000 (Milestone 1) + ₳15,000 (Milestone 2) + ₳18,000 (Milestone 3) + ₳20,000 (Milestone 4) = ₳68,000

No dependencies

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

The cost of the project represents value for money for the Cardano ecosystem because it directly addresses a critical need for increasing awareness and participation in the governance process within West and East Africa, regions with significant untapped potential. The workshops will serve as a catalyst for active community involvement, creating a ripple effect that enhances Cardano’s decentralized governance model.

Key Points of Value:

Empowering Local Communities:

By engaging 200 attendees (50 participants per workshop), the project will empower local Cardano enthusiasts and community leaders in Ghana and Kenya. Educating these participants on governance concepts and roles, such as DReps, SPOs, and the Constitutional Committee, ensures they are equipped to contribute meaningfully to governance discussions and proposals.

Localized Content and Community-Led Engagement:

The investment in hosting localized workshops ensures that the educational content is culturally relevant and delivered in a manner that resonates with local communities. This tailored approach helps bridge the knowledge gap, making complex governance concepts accessible, thereby enhancing overall understanding and participation.

Establishing a Foundation for Long-Term Involvement:

The workshops will not only educate but also establish a strong foundation for sustained community engagement. This will lead to the identification and growth of new leaders, facilitators, and representatives who can continue to promote and support Cardano’s governance in these regions long after the workshops are completed.

Optimized Resource Allocation:

The budget of ₳68,000 is proportionately allocated across logistics, travel, coordination, and materials, ensuring that every ADA spent is directly tied to impactful outcomes. By focusing on four separate events, the project maximizes reach while keeping costs controlled, thereby providing high value per unit cost.

The long-term benefits of a more informed and active community far outweigh the initial investment, making the project a valuable initiative for the Cardano ecosystem’s growth and governance evolution in Africa.