Please describe your proposed solution.

The Cardano Summits from 2020 to 2023 have continually set high standards in community engagement. The journey began with the virtual "Shelley Edition" in 2020, followed by the 2021 Summit in Wyoming, which introduced a mix of live and virtual events, including a metaverse. The 2022 Summit in Lausanne, Switzerland, focused on community builders, while highlighting the growing contributions within the Cardano ecosystem. The 2023 event in Dubai added to the rich experience known as the Cardano Summit

Travel costs and restrictions have however limited African members' participation to local or regional events. Hosting the 2025 Summit in Africa would promote accessibility and leverage the continent's emerging technology landscape, reinforcing Cardano's dedication to global diversity and development and also position Cardano to take advantage of the unfolding potential of Africa as an emergent technology space.

We are therefore planning a six-month intensive project aimed at establishing Africa as the perfect host for the 2025 Cardano Summit, involving a study on feasibility and engaging stakeholders to highlight the continent's capabilities and potential.

This will be done through the following**:**

• Stakeholder Consultation and Agreement: Initiate dialogues with the Cardano Foundation and key community members to build consensus for hosting the summit in Africa, backed by a strategic plan.
• Feasibility Analysis and Venue Selection: Perform ground-level research across African locations to identify the best fit for the summit, considering accessibility, infrastructure, and local support.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Engage key local and international stakeholders to ensure broad support and successful execution of the summit.
• Event Diversification and Inclusion Goals: Ensure active participation from African Cardano community members, reflecting the diversity of the global ecosystem.
• Showcasing Africa as a Tech Hub: Use the summit to highlight Africa's growing significance in technology, especially in blockchain, demonstrating unique use cases and opportunities.
• Networking and Collaboration Opportunities: Leverage the event for building networks and fostering collaborations, benefiting both African tech communities and global participants.

Expected Outcomes:

• Selection of an African city as the host for Cardano Summit 2025.
• Improved global perception of Africa as a key player in blockchain and emergent technologies.
• Strengthened ties within the global Cardano community.
• Increased recognition of Africa's contribution to global technological advancements, especially in blockchain.

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

If this project succeeds in convincing the Cardano Foundation and stakeholders to hold the 2025 Summit in Africa, it will be a strategic move to enhance the community's visibility, foster global partnerships, inspire innovation, and build a more robust and diverse community

1. Global Visibility: Hosting the Cardano Summit 2025 in Africa expands Cardano's global presence, attracting new markets and showcasing its inclusivity.
2. Local and Global Partnerships: The summit fosters partnerships between African innovators and the global Cardano community, driving collaborative growth and innovation.
3. Innovation Showcase: Africa's unique challenges offer fertile ground for novel blockchain solutions, inspiring diverse applications within the Cardano ecosystem.
4. Networking and Knowledge Sharing: The event encourages idea exchange and collaboration, fueling development and integration within the Cardano platform.
5. Diversification: Integrating African perspectives diversifies the Cardano ecosystem, leading to versatile, globally relevant blockchain solutions.
6. Local Engagement: The summit enables African developers and businesses to directly engage with Cardano, increasing adoption and real-world applications.
7. Educational Impact: It serves as a platform for blockchain education and skill development, building local expertise to sustain the Cardano ecosystem's growth.

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

Metrics will focus on the project's ability to assess feasibility, gain stakeholder support, engage with local communities, and lay the groundwork for the successful hosting of the Cardano Summit in Africa

1. Feasibility Report: Success in producing a detailed feasibility report covering logistical, financial, and cultural aspects of hosting the summit in Africa. This report should provide clear recommendations to the CF.
2. Stakeholder Agreement and Support: Measure the level of consensus and support obtained from Cardano stakeholders and the broader community regarding the proposed location and format of the summit.
3. Quality of Research: Evaluate the depth and accuracy of the on-ground research conducted, including local infrastructure, technology readiness, and cultural considerations.
4. Effective Venue Selection: Success in identifying and securing a suitable venue that meets the criteria for accessibility, capacity, technology infrastructure, and security.
5. Stakeholder Engagement Metrics: Assess the degree of engagement with local African stakeholders, including governments, tech communities, and businesses, and the establishment of potential partnerships.
6. Budget and Resource Planning: Develop a realistic and comprehensive budget plan for the event, including potential funding sources, cost estimates, and resource allocation.
7. Risk Assessment and Management Plan: Success in identifying potential risks and challenges of hosting the summit in Africa and providing a robust risk management strategy.
8. Community Feedback and Interest: Gauge the interest and feedback from the Cardano community and potential attendees through surveys or informal engagement, providing insight into the project's reception and potential success.

Our plans to share the outputs and results of our project

We are planning a multifaceted approach to stakeholder communication and project visibility, aligned with our project's goals and strategies

1. Regular Meetings with relevant Stakeholders: Continue with regular meetings with stakeholders such as the Cardano Foundation (CF), IOG, Emurgo, Wada, IntersectMBO, event organizers like RareEvo, NFTxLV, and other community groups to maintain alignment and gather feedback.
2. Presentations at 2024 Cardano Events: Actively participate in events like RareEvo, Cardano Summit, and NFTxLV through presentations or exhibitions to showcase progress and gather support.
3. Digital Communication Platforms: Use email updates, project websites, and social media channels for frequent communication and updates to the broader community.
4. Virtual Meetings: Leverage our own Africa Town Hall meetings as well as the main Catalyst and other regional Catalyst Town halls to share progress and gather feedback. Organize webinars or virtual meetups to discuss project developments, address queries, and engage with a wider audience.
5. Local Community Engagement: Involve local blockchain and tech communities in Africa through workshops and meetups to gather local insights and foster community support.
6. Feasibility Report: Prepare and share a comprehensive feasibility report detailing the project's research findings, potential challenges, and recommendations for hosting the summit in Africa.
7. Feedback Surveys: Regularly conduct surveys among stakeholders and the community for feedback, ensuring the project remains responsive to their needs and suggestions.

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?

• Community Network Expertise: Leveraging nearly two years of engagement in the Cardano ecosystem, the Africa Town Hall team has established a strong network within and adjacent to the Cardano community. This includes members who are Cardano Ambassadors, offering direct access to the Cardano Foundation, enhancing trust and effective advocacy.

• Collaborative Network: The partnership with Wada's hub network and expertise in local events organization, as well as other Africa based Cardano communities will boost on-the-ground research capabilities. This collaboration provides invaluable local insights and data, crucial for navigating local challenges, thereby ensuring comprehensive data gathering and community-backed accountability.

• Institutional Network: key local institutions for collaboration include universities and academic institutions for expertise and audience engagement; technology incubators and accelerators to connect with startups; local government agencies for logistical support and permits; industry associations and chambers of commerce for business networking; tech and innovation hubs as central nodes of the tech community; NGOs focused on technology and development for community outreach; media outlets for promotion and coverage; and telecom companies for essential internet and connectivity solutions.

Main Goal:

1. Secure the selection of an African city as the host for Cardano Summit 2025.
2. Enhance Africa's global perception as a hub for blockchain and emergent technologies.
3. Foster stronger ties within the global Cardano community.
4. Amplify Africa's role in global tech innovation, especially in blockchain.

Validation of Feasibility:

• Conduct a comprehensive feasibility study assessing logistical, infrastructural, and community support aspects.
• Gather and analyze feedback from stakeholders and the broader community through surveys and consultations.
• Monitor the alignment of project milestones with set timelines and objectives.

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

Stakeholder Engagement and Initial Consensus

• Deliverables: List of key stakeholders, meeting agendas, and summary notes.
• Outputs: Initial stakeholder meetings conducted; preliminary feedback collected.
• Acceptance Criteria: Establishment of a foundational understanding and initial support among stakeholders.

> Feasibility Study Initiation

• Deliverables: Research parameters and initial venue assessments.
• Outputs: Preliminary research on potential cities and venues; initial logistical, infrastructural, and security assessments.
• Acceptance Criteria: Laying the groundwork for a comprehensive feasibility study with targeted focus areas.

> Comprehensive Feasibility Study and Venue Selection

• Deliverables: Completed feasibility study report; shortlist of suitable venues.
• Outputs: In-depth analysis of potential venues; stakeholder presentations and feedback sessions.
• Acceptance Criteria: Identification of the most viable city and venue for the summit, backed by data and stakeholder input.

>Final Lobbying and Stakeholder Consensus

• Deliverables: Revised project plan; final lobbying report.
• Outputs: Consolidated support from key stakeholders; refined project proposal based on comprehensive feedback.
• Acceptance Criteria: Secured commitment and consensus from stakeholders for the selected venue and the overall project direction.

> Project Delivery and Final Report

• Deliverables: Final project report; presentation materials for closing webinar/meeting.
• Outputs: Presentation of final report to stakeholders; hosting of a closing event to summarize project outcomes.
• Acceptance Criteria: Formal closure of the project with clear documentation of the process, findings, and recommendations for hosting the Cardano Summit 2025 in Africa.

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

Afia Owusu: A member of Wada community and Hub lead for Ghana, Active Cardano and Catalyst Community Member since Fund 6, Coordinator of Catalyst Africa Town Hall (CATH) and Catalyst Africa School. Has been a CA since F7 and a vCA in F8. Afia holds an MSc degree 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, and 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.

*Role:*Project Liaison & Implementation Lead

Telegram: @AfiaAOwusu

Ubio Obu: CEO of RemoStart, A Blockchain Researcher and an AI expert and researcher with 4 years of experience in developing ML models. He has product management experience and has managed products that are in Agriculture, IoT, health, app development, etc. He has experience working with a range of tech stacks and has about 6 research publications in the field of Artificial Intelligence. His wide experience in tech development makes him ideal for the product management position in this solution. Successfully implemented a fund 9 awarded proposal. He will be in charge of coordinating with faculties and mentors for this project. He is a catalyst Facilitator collective member, organized the CIP-1694 Lagos event, was an African town hall coordinator, and was a moderator at the SingularityNet Deepfunding2 Pitchfest.

linkedin.com/in/ubio-obu-71927276/

github.com/ubiodee

Role: On the ground Data Collection Coordinator

Discord: Ubiodee#9502

Daniel is currently the President of FinTech and Blockchain Society at the University of Aberdeen and also Cardano Ambassador. He was a Host for the Cardano Summit 2022. He is currently acting as the Community Manager and Regional Integration for the Catalyst Africa Town Hall.

He is the Co-host at the Catalyst Africa School. Projects Manager for Cardano Peer Education (A Catalyst funded project to educate students about blockchain and how to guide students and bring their innovative ideas to be funded on Idea-scale.

He was a Community Advisor in Catalyst fund 7 and Catalyst Challenge Team Lead for ‘Scale-UP Cardano’s Community Hubs’ challenge settings for fund 8. Daniel envisioned using Blockchain Technology to bridge the gap between human capabilities and machine learning (AI & IoT) in developing countries.

Role: Project Reporting & Documentation

Telegram: :@ddlezu

Twitter: @ddlezu

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

1.Stakeholder Engagement and Meetings

• Travel and Accommodation (for meetings): 31,250 Ada
• Meeting Expenses (venue, catering, materials): 12,500 Ada
• Total for Stakeholder Engagement: 43,750

2.Feasibility Study

• Research Personnel : 25,000 Ada
• Local Travel and Data Collection Expenses: 15,625 Ada
• Report Writing and Production: 9,375 Ada
• Total for Feasibility Study: 50,000 Ada

3. Project Management and Oversight

• Project Coordination: 20,000 Ada
• Administrative Costs (communication, software subscriptions): 9,375
• Contingency Fund (unforeseen expenses): 11,250 Ada
• Total for Project Management: 40,625 Ada

4. Final Reporting and Presentation

• Report Production and Dissemination: 12,500 Ada
• Close out presentation : 9,375 Ada
• Total for Final Reporting: 21,875 Ada

Grand Total: 156,250 Ada

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

Our project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem

• Covers Initial Scoping Costs: The project handles the preliminary feasibility study and stakeholder engagement, saving the Cardano Foundation from these initial expenses.

• Uses Local Talent: Leveraging local expertise ensures cost-effectiveness and culturally relevant insights, supporting the local economy while providing accurate context for the Summit.

• Boosts Global Image: Hosting the Summit in Africa enhances Cardano's global perception, potentially attracting new users and developers.

• Enhances Community Engagement: Fosters networking within an emerging blockchain market, creating opportunities for new collaborations and use cases for Cardano.

• Provides Strategic Insights: Offers valuable information about the African market, informing the Cardano Foundation’s future strategies.

• Stimulates Blockchain Interest: The Summit's presence in Africa could increase blockchain education and adoption across the continent