Please describe your proposed solution.

The Cardano community is growing rapidly, but there is a lack of awareness and support for dReps (delegated representatives). This can make it difficult for new dReps to get started and participate effectively in the Cardano ecosystem.

This proposal outlines a plan to host a series of webinars to educate dReps about the Cardano protocol, the dRep role, and the decision-making process. The webinars will also provide opportunities for participants to ask questions and get help from experienced dReps across ten (10) countries and more.

The target audience for this project is new and enrolled dReps, as well as anyone interested in learning more about the Cardano protocol and the dRep role.

The expected impact of this project is to increase dRep awareness, educate participants, and improve the onboarding experience. This will lead to expanded dRep participation and informed decision making, which will benefit the Cardano ecosystem as a whole.

The deliverables for this project include:

• A series of three webinars on topics related to the Cardano protocol, the dRep role, and the decision-making process.
• Recorded event sessions that can be accessed by participants after the webinars have been held.
• Educational resources, such as guides and FAQs, that can be shared with the Cardano community.
• A comprehensive report on the impact of the webinars.

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

The webinars will also provide opportunities for participants to ask questions and get help from experienced dReps.

This solution will address the challenge by:

• Increasing dRep awareness and education, which will lead to more well-informed decision-making.
• Improving the onboarding experience for new dReps, which will make it easier for them to get started.
• Attracting more people to become dReps, which will increase participation in the Cardano ecosystem.
• Leveraging on the Cardano forum which provides a dedicated space, accessible at https://forum.cardano.org/c/governance/dreps/211, where dReps can connect, exchange knowledge, and foster collaborative efforts within the Cardano community's governance framework.

Overall, this solution will help to strengthen the Cardano ecosystem by making it easier for new and enrolled dReps to participate and contribute.

Here are some specific benefits that the Cardano ecosystem will enjoy as a result of this solution:

• Increased participation in the Cardano network. As more people become aware of the dRep role and the benefits of participating, we can expect to see an increase in the number of dReps. This will lead to increased participation in the Cardano network, which will benefit the entire community.
• Improved decision-making. As dReps become more educated about the Cardano protocol and the decision-making process, we can expect to see more informed decision-making. This will be beneficial for the entire Cardano ecosystem, as it will help to ensure that the network is managed in a way that is in the best interests of all participants.
• Increased engagement with the Cardano community. The webinars will provide a forum for dReps to connect with each other and share knowledge. This will help to increase engagement with the Cardano community, which will benefit the entire ecosystem.

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

The success of this project will be measured based on the following metrics:

• Number of participants in the webinars. This will be an indication of the level of interest in the project and the reach of the webinars. We anticipate receiving not less than 250 participants over the three (3) webinars. Specifically, 75 participants minimum per webinar.

• Level of engagement and participation from participants. This will be measured by the number of questions asked, the level of discussion, and the overall feedback from participants.

• The number of dReps onboarded into the ecosystem. Out of the total number of participants, we anticipate onboarding not less than 75% to participate in the dRep activities.

• Feedback from participants on the webinars. This will be collected through surveys and interviews and will provide insights into the impact of the webinars on participants' knowledge and understanding of the Cardano protocol, the dRep role, and the decision-making process.

In addition to these quantitative metrics, the success of the project will also be evaluated based on the following qualitative factors:

• The quality of the webinar content. The webinars would be informative, engaging and should provide participants with the knowledge and skills they need to participate in the Cardano ecosystem.

• The effectiveness of the webinars in reaching their target audience. The webinars should be promoted to the right people and should be accessible to people with a variety of technical backgrounds.

• The overall impact of the webinars on the Cardano ecosystem. The webinars should help to increase awareness of the Cardano protocol, the dRep role, and the decision-making process. They should also help to improve the onboarding experience for new dReps and to attract more people to become dReps.

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

With the use of online social media platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook, in addition to YouTube, we will share the outputs and results of our project. Shared below is an indication of how we will execute this;

• Publishing events recordings, educational resources, and guides: We will compile video snippets out of Q&A sessions and publish them on YouTube to serve as a go-to FAQ regarding the dRep agenda. In addition, compiled educational resources and guides would be shared publicly in our posts on social media platforms. i.e., Telegram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. This will help to make dRep information more accessible and easier to understand. We will also make sure to translate these resources into multiple languages to reach a wider audience.

• Sharing updates, insights, and case studies: A landing page which will be created for this project would highlight insights and case studies that will be gathered out of the project as it goes on. This will help to keep the community informed about the project's progress and the latest developments in the dRep space. We will also use this opportunity to highlight the benefits of becoming a dRep and how dReps can make a positive impact on the Cardano ecosystem.

• Engaging with the Cardano community: Through Cardano Community channels on Telegram, Discord, and Twitter, we will engage the community in discussions concerning the dRep agenda. We will use these channels to answer questions, address concerns, and get feedback on our project. We will also use this opportunity to promote the project and encourage people to get involved. This is essential for building relationships with potential dReps and Cardano users.

We believe that these activities will help to increase awareness of dReps and facilitate onboarding. This will ultimately benefit the Cardano ecosystem by making it more accessible and vibrant.

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

Amazingly our team consists of experienced events organizers, community managers, and subject matter experts in the Cardano ecosystem with a track record of delivering successful events and engaging with diverse communities. The team prioritize transparency, accountability, and open communication with project stakeholders.

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

The goal of our project is to organize three (3) webinars to educate and engage the community and provide educational support through resources, guides, and Q&A sessions to assist with dRep onboarding. We will ensure validation by measuring event attendance, participant feedback, engagement metrics, and user testimonials to assess the impact of the events and support activities. Further details on how the validation process will be executed have been highlighted in the Impact Section of the proposal, hence we wouldn't like to duplicate here. See "[IMPACT] How do you intend to measure the success of your project?"

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: Webinar One (1) and Promotion Campaign (Months 1-2)

• Explore webinar topics, speakers, and dates.
• Create promotional materials and campaigns.
• Launch webinar registration and marketing.
• Launch marketing campaign for Webinar 1
• Host Webinar 1 on the second week of the second month
• Collect feedback and evaluate Webinar 1
• Compile a comprehensive report on Webinar 1

Milestone 2: Webinar Two (2) and Educational Support (Months 3-4)

• Develop educational resources, guides, and FAQ sessions shared across YouTube and various Cardano project catalyst communities.
• Provide ongoing support and engagement with participants
• Launch marketing campaign for Webinar 2
• Host Webinar 2 on the second week of the fourth month
• Collect feedback and evaluate Webinar 2
• Compile a comprehensive report on Webinar 2

Milestone 3: Webinar 3 and Close-out Reporting (Months 5–6)

• Launch marketing campaign for Webinar 3
• Host Webinar 3 on the second week of the sixth month
• Collect feedback and evaluate Webinar 3
• Compile a comprehensive report on Webinar 3
• Compile and submit a close-out report for the project.

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

Milestone 1: Webinar One (1) and Promotion Campaign (Months 1-2)

• Deliverables: Identified event topics, designed promotional materials, scheduled event dates, launched marketing to receive registrations, hosted “Webinar One (1)” collected feedback from participants, and drafted and shared a comprehensive report with the community.
• Outputs: Increased event awareness, educated participants, and improved onboarding experience.
• Intended Outcomes: Successful “Webinar One (1)” execution, expanded dRep awareness, and informed decision-making.

Milestone 2: Webinar Two (2) and Educational Support (Months 3-4)

• Deliverables: Educational resources were developed and shared via YouTube, participants received support, marketed and hosted “Webinar Two (2)” and collected feedback from participants, and a comprehensive report was compiled for “Webinar Two (2)”.
• Output: Increased dRep awareness, educated participants, and improved onboarding experience.
• Intended Outcomes: Successful “Webinar Two (2)” execution, expanded dRep awareness, and informed decision-making.

Milestone 3: Webinar 3 and Close-out Reporting (Months 5-6)

• Deliverables: “Webinar Three (3) was hosted with feedback collected, a comprehensive report was drafted, and finally close-out report and video were created and shared with IOG.
• Output: Insights into event effectiveness and user satisfaction.
• Intended Outcomes: Successful “Webinar Two (2)” execution, expanded dRep awareness, informed decision-making, enhanced event planning for future initiatives, and improved Cardano community engagement strategies.

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

Milestone 1: Webinar One (1) and Promotion Campaign (Months 1-2)

1. Webinar Planning:

- Content development, identification and confirmation of speakers, and dates:

24 hours x ADA 50/hour = ADA 1,200

2. Promotional Materials and Campaign:

- Design of marketing materials: ADA 500

- Social media ads and promotions: ADA 1,300

- Email marketing campaign: ADA 500

3. Webinar Launch and Marketing:

- Webinar registration platform: ADA 700

- Landing page development: ADA 1000

- SEO and online advertising: ADA 1,000

4. Webinar Execution and Evaluation:

- Webinar hosting platform: ADA 800

- Moderator/Presenter fees/Honorariums: ADA 1,600

- Feedback collection and evaluation: 24 hours x ADA 50/hour = ADA 1,200

5. Comprehensive Report:

- Report compilation: 20 hours x ADA 50/hour = ADA 1,000

6. Miscellaneous Expense: ADA 800

Total Budget for Milestone 1: ADA 11,600

Milestone 2: Webinar Two (2) and Educational Support (Months 3-4)

1. Ongoing Support and Engagement:

- Q&A session coordination and participant engagement: ADA 500

- Community management and engagement: ADA 1,200

2. Webinar Marketing:

- Design of marketing materials: ADA 500

- Social media ads and promotions: ADA 1,300

- Email marketing campaign: ADA 500

3. Webinar Execution and Evaluation:

- Webinar hosting platform: ADA 800

- Moderator/Presenter fees/Honorariums: ADA 1,000

- Feedback collection and evaluation: ADA 1,200

4. Comprehensive Report:

- Report compilation: 20 hours x $50/hour = ADA 1,000

5. Miscellaneous Expense: ADA 800

Total Budget for Milestone 2: ADA 8,800

Milestone 3: Webinar 3 and Close-out Reporting (Months 5-6)

1. Webinar Marketing:

- Graphic design and content creation: ADA 500

- Social media ads and promotions: ADA 1,300

- Email marketing campaign: ADA 500

2. Webinar Execution and Evaluation:

- Webinar hosting platform: ADA 800

- Moderator/Presenter fees: ADA 1,000

- Feedback collection and evaluation: 10 hours x ADA 50/hour = ADA 500

3. Educational Resources Development:

- Content creation and editing [Video]: 32 hours x ADA 50/hour = ADA 1,600

4. Comprehensive Report:

- Report compilation: ADA 500

- Overall project analysation and Close-out report preparation: ADA 1,600

5. Miscellaneous Expense: ADA 800

Total Budget for Milestone 3: ADA 9,100

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

Christopher Pokoo-Aikins: Christopher is a highly experienced accountant and finance professional with over 12 years of experience in the field. hold’s a Master's degree in Computer Application from Amity University (India), an MSc degree in Accounting and Finance from KNUST (Ghana), and a BSc in Business Administration from KNUST (Ghana).

He is passionate about blockchain technology and believe that it has the potential to solve many problems. He has been a community advisor and voter in the Project Catalyst funding cycle since Fund 5, and was also a member of the Catalyst Challenge Team for the "Scale-UP Cardano's Community Hubs" challenge in Fund 8.

He is a strong leader with a proven track record of success and also a highly ethical individual who is committed to implementing change in a positive way.

Role: Team Lead

Twitter: @chrisaiks

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn

Richmond Oppong: Richmond is a graphic designer with over 10 years of experience in a variety of design disciplines, including logo design, print and poster design, business card design, 3D signage, and advertising and marketing. He holds a Higher National Diploma in Graphic Design from Takoradi Polytechnic in Ghana. He is also a member of the Wada community and the Design and Marketing Lead.

Richmond is a blockchain enthusiast and is actively involved in the Cardano project catalyst community. He is the Co-host at the Catalyst Africa School and the Design & Marketing Lead for the Catalyst Africa Town Hall. He was a Community Advisor in Catalyst funds 5 to 9, and a Veteran Community Advisor in funds 8 and 9. He was also a member of the Catalyst Challenge Team for the "Scale-UP Cardano's Community Hubs" challenge in fund 8. He is currently a member of the Catalyst Challenge Team for the "Startups & Onboarding for Students" challenge.

Role: Design and Marketing lead

Twitter: @cardanoholious

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn

Nana Safo: He holds BSc. in Information Technology from Ghana Communication Technology University. He is an enthusiastic and passionate young man who serves as University Ambassador for Wada, an organization that is focused on creating awareness and providing access and voice to the people of Africa and the Diaspora with regard to blockchain and web3.

He also serves as Ghana's Ambassador to Landano International, an international company that is aimed at building a decentralized application that would provide a trustworthy platform for managing land titles using the Cardano blockchain.

As co-founder and CEO of Cardano Africa Live, he has overseen and contributed to the setup of a digital hub in Johannesburg, South Africa. The hub serves the good people of South Africa who want to explore blockchain technology and Web3 with 24/7 internet, electricity, and space.

He has been contributing to the growth of Cardano Project Catalyst since Fund 3. He assessed numerous projects against the laid-down criteria to ensure that at least the deserving projects received funding to implement them. He also managed projects like “Boosting Cardano in South Africa ”, “Cardano Recycling DApp”, and “Market-to-Customers Intermediary App” and contributed immensely to the implementation of projects like “Planting Roots in Africa”, “Landano.io”, “Cardano Recycling DApp”, “Boosting Cardano in South Africa”, “Nation Building DApps”, etc. As a veteran and public speaker, he has used his experience, story, and podium to inspire others who like to explore opportunities at events like Opportunity Summit 23, Cardano Summit 22, Youth Onboarding Outreach 1, Wada Catalyst Conference 22, Cardano Africa Live 22, etc.

Role: Content Strategist

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn

Angela Okai-Nartey: Angela is a Digital Marketer and the Executive Director of the Ladies Network for Economic Freedom. She has 3 years of experience in Think Tank Development, Non-Profit Management, and Digital Marketing.

She holds a BSC in Information Technology from Ghana Communication Technology University. She also holds a Think Tank Foundations Certificate from Atlas Network Academy and a Digital Marketing Certificate from Google Digital Workshop.

Angela is a blockchain enthusiast, She has been a Community Advisor since Fund 7 and a challenge team member for Scale-UP Cardano’s Community Hubs in Fund 8.

Role: Content Creator

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @Akua_Nartey

Linkedin

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 in several ways:

Webinar series: The project involves organizing a series of webinars, which provide valuable educational content and promote awareness about the Cardano ecosystem, using the Zoom Platform.

Promotion campaign: The project includes a comprehensive promotion campaign, utilizing various marketing channels such as social media, email marketing, and online advertising. This ensures that the webinars reach a wide audience and generate substantial interest. Effective promotion increases the visibility and reputation of the Cardano ecosystem, attracting more participants and potential users.

Educational resources: The project allocates resources for the development of educational materials, including content creation, editing, and Q&A sessions. These resources contribute to the overall knowledge and understanding of the Cardano ecosystem, empowering community members to make informed decisions and engage actively with the platform. By investing in educational support, the project helps foster a knowledgeable and engaged community.

Comprehensive reporting: Each milestone includes the compilation and analysis of a comprehensive report. These reports provide valuable insights and feedback on the webinars, marketing campaigns, and overall project outcomes. The information gathered helps the Cardano ecosystem understand the effectiveness of its efforts, identify areas for improvement, and make data-driven decisions. The reporting ensures transparency and accountability, demonstrating the value derived from the project.

Budget allocation: The budget is allocated across various components, such as content development, marketing, webinar execution, and evaluation. This balanced approach ensures that resources are appropriately distributed to achieve the project's objectives. By investing in key areas, the project maximizes the impact and effectiveness of its activities, delivering value for the Cardano ecosystem.