Building a Learning, Verification and Job Placement Platform that will will enhance verification of identities by different independent entities such as corporates, 3rd party organizations and learning institutions.

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Anderson Rioba

[GENERAL] Email address of main applicant

anderson@theafricablockchaincenter.com

Additional applicants

Jefferson Mkungusi:

Chief Executive Officer : Africa Blockchain Center

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

7

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language.

No

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

No

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.” .

None

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

Yes

[GENERAL] If NO, please describe which outputs are not going to be open source. If YES, please write “Project will be fully open source.”

Project will be fully open source.

[METADATA] Category of proposal

Education

[METADATA] SDG rating

1 - No Poverty

4 - Quality Education

5- Gender Equality

8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth

9- Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

10 - Reduced Inequalities

11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities

[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.

Africa Blockchain Center proposes to develop a decentralized learning platform integrated with Cardano Blockchain and Atala Prism for verification and job placement. The main problem we aim to solve is the lack of trust, transparency, and efficiency in the current education and employment systems.

In traditional education systems, verifying educational credentials and certifications can be time-consuming, prone to errors, and susceptible to fraud. Similarly, the process of job placement often lacks transparency, making it challenging for job seekers to find suitable opportunities and for employers to identify qualified candidates. Our solution aims to address these challenges by leveraging the benefits of Cardano Blockchain and Atala Prism.

We approach this problem by utilizing Cardano Blockchain, known for its robust security, scalability, and sustainability. The use of blockchain technology ensures immutability, transparency, and decentralized verification of educational credentials and certifications. Atala Prism, a decentralized identity solution, enables individuals to have control over their personal information while providing trustworthy verification to potential employers.

Our project engages multiple stakeholders. First and foremost, it benefits students and learners by providing a secure and reliable platform for storing and sharing their educational achievements. They can build a verifiable digital portfolio that showcases their skills and qualifications, enhancing their employability prospects. Secondly, employers benefit from a transparent and trustworthy platform for identifying qualified candidates, reducing the time and effort spent on verification. Finally, educational institutions can streamline their verification processes and ensure the integrity of their certifications.

To demonstrate the impact of our solution, we will conduct pilot programs with educational institutions and employers. These programs will involve the onboarding of students and verification of their credentials using Atala Prism. We will measure the reduction in verification time, cost, and instances of fraud. Additionally, we will track the successful job placements facilitated through the platform and gather feedback from both employers and job seekers on their experience.

The uniqueness of our solution lies in the integration of Cardano Blockchain and Atala Prism, which provide a secure and decentralized infrastructure for verification and job placement. By leveraging these technologies, we ensure trust, transparency, and efficiency in the education and employment ecosystems. The benefits extend to students, employers, and educational institutions, creating a more reliable and streamlined process. This aligns with Cardano's vision of empowering individuals and fostering economic growth through secure and transparent systems.

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

Expertise and Quality: The costs described for each milestone reflect the involvement of skilled professionals, consultants, and developers with expertise in blockchain technology, smart contract development, UI/UX design, and integration with Atala Prism. By investing in high-quality resources, the project ensures the delivery of a robust, secure, and user-friendly platform that aligns with industry best practices.

Complexity and Innovation: Building a comprehensive learning platform integrated with verification and job placement functionalities on Cardano Blockchain and Atala Prism involves intricate technical work and innovative solutions. The costs associated with development, integration, and testing reflect the complexity and sophistication of the project, ensuring that it meets the ecosystem's needs and addresses the identified challenges.

Market Rates and Industry Standards: The costs presented in the budget breakdown are based on prevailing market rates and industry standards for professionals and services involved in blockchain development, smart contracts, UX/UI design, integration consulting, testing, and project management. These rates are generally proportional to the average wages and typical freelance rates in the respective industries and also with the context of Africa being the location of our organization, the cost of development will be lower than other jurisdictions.We also intend to have a huge team of interns who have been part of the Africa Blockchain Center cohorts to learn and build systems in the 

Value in Efficiency and Trust: The project's value lies in the long-term efficiency and trust it brings to the education and job placement processes. By streamlining verification, enhancing transparency, and providing efficient job matching, the platform reduces administrative burden, minimizes fraud, and improves overall productivity. These benefits result in cost savings, time savings, and enhanced opportunities for students, employers, and educational institutions.

Projected Impact and Return on Investment: The project aims to address significant challenges in the education and employment systems, ultimately improving outcomes for stakeholders. The projected impact includes reduced verification time and costs, increased trust and transparency, improved job placement efficiency, and enhanced collaboration and innovation within the Cardano ecosystem. These outcomes offer a significant return on investment for the resources allocated to the project.

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

To measure the success of our project, we will utilize a combination of quantitative and qualitative metrics. Here are some key areas we would focus on:

• Adoption Rate: We will track the number of educational institutions, students, and employers that actively engage with the platform. Increasing adoption indicates the value and acceptance of our solution within the Cardano ecosystem.
• Verification Efficiency: We will measure the time and cost savings achieved through the streamlined verification process. This includes comparing the time taken for manual verification before the platform's implementation and after. Reduced verification time and cost demonstrate increased efficiency.
• Fraud Reduction: We will track instances of fraudulent credentials detected and prevented by the blockchain-based verification system. This helps ensure the integrity of the educational ecosystem and builds trust among employers.
• Job Placement Success: We will monitor the number of successful job placements facilitated through the platform. This metric reflects the effectiveness of connecting employers with qualified candidates and indicates the platform's impact on job seekers' employability.
• User Feedback: Gathering feedback from students, employers, and educational institutions through surveys, interviews, and user reviews will provide valuable insights into their experience with the platform. Positive feedback regarding ease of use, trustworthiness, and efficiency would indicate the project's success.

In terms of the project's benefits for the Cardano ecosystem, our solution contributes to the ecosystem's productivity and growth in several ways:

• Enhanced Trust and Security: By leveraging Cardano Blockchain and Atala Prism for verification, we strengthen the trust and security within the ecosystem. This encourages more stakeholders to participate, leading to increased productivity.
• Improved Efficiency: The streamlined verification process and transparent job placement platform reduce administrative burdens and inefficiencies. This allows educational institutions and employers to allocate their resources more effectively, resulting in improved productivity.
• Increased Adoption of Cardano: Integrating our solution with Cardano Blockchain creates a practical use case for the ecosystem. As more educational institutions, students, and employers join the platform, it drives the adoption and utilization of Cardano's infrastructure and native tokens.

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

Documentation and Reports: We will prepare comprehensive documentation and reports that outline the project's objectives, methodology, key findings, and impact. These documents will be made available online and shared with relevant stakeholders.

Case Studies and Success Stories: We will create compelling case studies and success stories that highlight the tangible benefits and outcomes of the project. These will be shared through various channels, including social media, blog posts, and industry-specific publications.

Presentations and Conferences: We will actively participate in relevant conferences, seminars, and industry events to present our project's findings and showcase its impact. This will provide an opportunity to engage with a wider audience, including policymakers, educators, employers, and blockchain enthusiasts.

Workshops and Training Programs: We will organize workshops and training programs to educate stakeholders about the benefits and potential of integrating Cardano Blockchain and Atala Prism in education and employment systems. These sessions will provide hands-on experience and foster collaboration.

Collaboration with Partners: We will actively seek partnerships with educational institutions, employers, and industry associations to share our outputs and explore collaboration opportunities. These partnerships will enable us to reach a broader audience and leverage their networks and resources.

Research Publications: The results generated from the project will be used as a basis for further research and development activities. We plan to publish research papers in academic journals and participate in research collaborations to contribute to the knowledge and advancement of blockchain-based solutions in education and employment.

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability?

At Africa Blockchain Center , we firmly believe that expertise and experience are the cornerstones of successful project delivery. Our team possesses a diverse range of skills and accomplishments that uniquely position us to excel in building a cutting-edge decentralized learning platform on the Cardano Blockchain. Key attributes that make our team and organization efficient in delivery of the Learning, Verification and Jobs placement platform include : 

a)Building Several Software Solutions Across Different Stacks:

Over the years, our team has successfully developed and deployed numerous software solutions across various technology stacks. This extensive experience has allowed us to tackle complex challenges effectively and find innovative solutions tailored to each project's unique requirements. Our proficiency in diverse stacks gives us a comprehensive understanding of software development, which we bring to every new endeavor.

b)Full Stack Engineering with a Wide Array of Technologies:

Our team comprises full-stack engineers with a broad skill set, encompassing technologies like React, React Native, Node.js, Haskell Programming, Marlowe, and Plutus Smart Contracts. This comprehensive expertise enables us to handle all aspects of development, from frontend interfaces to backend infrastructure and blockchain integration. We possess the versatility to adapt to evolving project needs and ensure seamless integration of blockchain capabilities into the learning platform.

c) Cardano Blockchain Proficiency:

We have a profound understanding of the Cardano Blockchain, its principles, and its unique features. Our experience with developing on the Cardano ecosystem has given us a deep appreciation for its security, scalability, and sustainability. Leveraging the power of Cardano, we are equipped to create a robust and decentralized learning platform that ensures data integrity and user ownership, making education more accessible and empowering learners worldwide.

d) Atala Prism and Decentralized Identity Solutions:

With a focus on cutting-edge technologies, our team has actively explored decentralized identity solutions, including Atala Prism. Our expertise in this area allows us to implement secure and privacy-preserving identity management, crucial for seamless user onboarding, certification verification, and job placement processes within the decentralized learning platform.

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] What are the main goals for the project and how will you validate if your approach is feasible?

The main goals for the project, Learning Platform, Verification, and (Job) Placement platform that utilizes Cardano Blockchain and Atala Prism, are as follows:

Goal: Streamlined Verification Process

Objective: Implement a decentralized and transparent verification process for educational credentials and certifications, reducing the time and effort required for verification.

Validation: Measure the reduction in verification time and cost compared to traditional manual verification processes. Assess the accuracy and reliability of the blockchain-based verification system through validation from educational institutions and employers.

Goal: Enhance Trust and Transparency

Objective: Establish a trustworthy and transparent ecosystem for educational credentials and job placement, leveraging the immutability and transparency of Cardano Blockchain and identity management using Atala Prism.

Validation: Gather feedback from students, employers, and educational institutions to assess their perception of trust and transparency in the platform. Monitor the reduction in fraudulent credentials and instances of non-compliance.

Goal: Improve Job Placement Efficiency

Objective: Connect job seekers with suitable employment opportunities through an efficient and transparent job placement mechanism.

Validation: Track the number of successful job placements facilitated through the platform. Measure the time taken for job seekers to find suitable opportunities compared to traditional job placement methods. Collect feedback from both job seekers and employers on the effectiveness and efficiency of the job placement process.

Goal: Foster Collaboration and Innovation

Objective: Encourage collaboration among educational institutions, employers, and blockchain developers to explore new possibilities and innovative solutions within the ecosystem.

Validation: Assess the number of collaborations and partnerships formed as a result of the project such as courses onboarded, . Monitor the level of participation and engagement from stakeholders in ideation and development activities. Evaluate the introduction of new features and functionalities driven by collaborative efforts.

While some goals can be quantified, such as reduction in verification time or number of successful job placements, others are qualitative, like trust and user experience. To measure qualitative goals, we would utilize surveys, interviews, and user feedback to gauge user satisfaction, perception of trust, and improvement in user experience.

For technical implementation, the project would involve developing the learning platform, integrating it with Cardano Blockchain, and implementing Atala Prism for decentralized identity and verification. The technical approach would include leveraging Cardano's blockchain infrastructure, developing smart contracts for different processes within the platform, implementing secure data storage and encryption, and ensuring seamless integration with Atala Prism for self sovereign identity management.

Throughout the project, regular assessments, user testing, and feedback collection would help validate the feasibility of the approach, identify any technical or user experience issues, and refine the implementation accordingly.

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] 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: Platform Design and Architecture

Timeline: 1 month

Success Criteria: Completion of platform design, including user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design, and finalization of the platform's architectural framework.

Projected Cost: ₳20,000

Milestone 2: Smart Contract Development

Timeline: 1.5 months

Tasks:

Develop and deploy smart contracts on Cardano Blockchain for secure storage and validation of educational credentials and job placement data.

Implement automated verification processes using smart contracts.

Success Criteria: Functional smart contracts deployed on the Cardano Blockchain, capable of securely storing and validating educational credentials and job placement data.

Projected Cost: ₳15,000

Milestone 3: Integration with Atala Prism

Timeline: 0.5 months

Tasks: 

Integrate Atala Prism for decentralized identity management and verification processes.

Implement secure identity verification mechanisms using Atala Prism.

Success Criteria: Successful integration of Atala Prism for decentralized identity management and completion of identity verification mechanisms.

Projected Cost: ₳15,000

Milestone 4: Learning Platform Development

Timeline: 1 month

Tasks:

Develop the learning platform with features for students to store and share their educational credentials, build digital portfolios, and explore educational opportunities.

Implement user authentication and access controls using Atala Prism.

Success Criteria: Fully functional learning platform with user authentication, credential storage, portfolio building, and educational opportunity exploration features.

Projected Cost: ₳30,000

Milestone 5: Verification System Implementation

Timeline: 1 month

Tasks:

Develop the blockchain-based verification system for educational credentials.

Integrate the verification system with the learning platform.

Success Criteria: Functional verification system integrated with the learning platform, enabling secure and transparent verification of educational credentials.

Projected Cost: ₳25,000

Milestone 6: Job Placement Mechanism Development

Timeline: 1 month

Tasks:

Design and develop the job placement mechanism for employers and job seekers.

Implement search and matching algorithms to connect job seekers with suitable opportunities.

Success Criteria: Job placement mechanism integrated into the platform, providing efficient and transparent job matching for employers and job seekers.

Projected Cost: ₳25,000

Milestone 7: Pilot Program and Testing

Timeline: 1 months

Tasks:

Conduct a pilot program involving educational institutions, students, and employers to test the platform's functionality and gather feedback.

Address any issues or enhancements identified during the pilot phase.

Success Criteria: Completion of a successful pilot program with positive feedback and any necessary refinements implemented.

Projected Cost: ₳30,000

Milestone 8: Launch and Deployment

Timeline: 0.5 month

Tasks:

Prepare the platform for production deployment.

Conduct final testing and quality assurance to ensure a smooth launch.

Success Criteria: Successful deployment of the learning platform, verification system, and job placement mechanism for public use.

Projected Cost: ₳40,000

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] Please describe the deliverables, outputs and intended outcomes of each milestone.

Here are the deliverables, outputs, and intended outcomes for each milestone of the project "Learning Platform, Verification, and (Job) Placement platform that utilizes Cardano Blockchain and Atala Prism":

Milestone 1: Platform Design and Architecture

Deliverables:

Platform design document outlining the UI and UX design.

Architectural framework document detailing the platform's technical architecture and components.

Outputs:

Clear understanding of the platform's visual design and user experience.

Well-defined architectural framework to guide the development process.

Intended Outcomes:

Ensure a user-friendly and intuitive platform design.

Establish a solid foundation for the technical implementation of the platform.

Measurement:

Progress can be measured based on the completion of the design document and architectural framework within the specified timeline.

Milestone 2: Smart Contract Development

Deliverables:

Development, intergration and deployment of smart contracts on the Cardano Blockchain.

Documentation on the functionalities and logic of the smart contracts.

Outputs:

Functional smart contracts capable of securely storing and validating educational credentials and job placement data.

Detailed documentation to understand the smart contracts' behavior and integration with other platform components.

Intended Outcomes:

Enable secure and tamper-proof storage and validation of educational credentials and job placement data.

Ensure transparency and immutability in the verification process.

Measurement:

Successful deployment and testing of smart contracts within the allocated timeline.

Milestone 3: Integration with Atala Prism

Deliverables:

Integration code and configuration for Atala Prism.

Documentation on the integration process and identity verification mechanisms.

Outputs:

Seamless integration of Atala Prism for decentralized identity management within the platform.

Implement secure identity verification mechanisms using Atala Prism.

Intended Outcomes:

Establish a trusted and decentralized identity management system.

Enable reliable and secure identity verification for users of the platform.

Measurement:

Successful integration of Atala Prism within the specified timeline, with functional identity verification mechanisms.

Milestone 4: Learning Platform Development

Deliverables:

Fully functional learning platform with features such as credential storage, portfolio building, and educational opportunity exploration.

User authentication and access control mechanisms implemented using Atala Prism.

Outputs:

User-friendly and intuitive learning platform that meets the needs of students and facilitates easy management of educational credentials.

Secure user authentication and access controls to ensure data privacy.

Intended Outcomes:

Provide a seamless experience for students to store and share their educational credentials.

Facilitate efficient exploration of educational opportunities within the platform.

Measurement:

Completion of the fully functional learning platform within the allocated timeline, meeting the specified requirements and user experience expectations.

Milestone 5: Verification System Implementation

Deliverables:

Functional blockchain-based verification system integrated with the learning platform.

Documentation on the verification process and system architecture.

Outputs:

Transparent and efficient verification system for educational credentials.

Integration of the verification system within the learning platform.

Intended Outcomes:

Streamline the verification process and reduce administrative burden for educational institutions and employers.

Ensure accuracy and trust in the verification of educational credentials.

Measurement:

Successful implementation and integration of the verification system, meeting the specified requirements and demonstrating improved efficiency.

Milestone 6: Job Placement Mechanism Development

Deliverables:

Job placement mechanism integrated within the platform.

Documentation on the matching algorithms and system functionality.

Outputs:

Efficient job placement mechanism connecting job seekers with suitable employment opportunities.

Search and matching algorithms to enhance the job matching process.

Intended Outcomes:

Simplify and streamline the job placement process for both job seekers and employers.

Facilitate effective matching of job seekers with suitable opportunities.

Measurement:

Completion of the fully functional job placement mechanism within the allocated timeline, meeting the specified requirements and demonstrating successful job matching.

Milestone 7: Pilot Program and Testing

Deliverables:

Pilot program report with feedback and recommendations.

Updated platform with refinements based on pilot program insights.

Outputs:

Validated platform through a pilot program involving educational institutions, students, and employers.

Identification of areas for improvement and refinements based on user feedback.

Intended Outcomes:

Validate the platform's functionality, usability, and effectiveness through real-world testing.

Incorporate user feedback and enhance the platform based on the pilot program insights.

Measurement:

Completion of the pilot program with positive feedback and implementation of necessary refinements based on user insights.

Milestone 8: Launch and Deployment

Deliverables:

Fully deployed and operational learning platform, verification system, and job placement mechanism.

Documentation on the deployment process and operational guidelines.

Outputs:

Publicly accessible learning platform with all integrated components functioning as intended.

Documentation to guide platform operation and maintenance.

Intended Outcomes:

Make the platform available to a wider audience, including students, employers, and educational institutions.

Ensure smooth operation and maintenance of the platform.

Measurement:

Successful deployment of the learning platform, verification system, and job placement mechanism, meeting the specified requirements and achieving operational readiness.

[RESOURCES & VALUE FOR MONEY] Please provide a detailed budget breakdown of the proposed work and resources.

Milestone 1: Platform Design and Architecture:  ₳25,000

UI/UX Design

Architectural Framework Development

Milestone 2: Smart Contract Development : ₳20,000

Smart Contract Development

Documentation

Milestone 3: Integration with Atala Prism : ₳10,000

Integration Development

Milestone 4: Learning Platform Development : ₳20,000

Front-end Development

Back-end Development

Authentication and Access Controls

Milestone 5: Verification System Implementation : ₳20,000

Verification System Development

Integration with Learning Platform

Milestone 6: Job Placement Mechanism Development : ₳20,000

Job Placement Mechanism Development

Skills-Matching Algorithms Development

Milestone 7: Pilot Program and Testing : ₳30,000

Pilot Program Execution

Refinements based on Feedback

Documentation

Milestone 8: Launch and Deployment : ₳20,000

Deployment and Operation

Additional Budget Elements:

Publicity/Marketing/Community Engagement: ₳10,000

Project Management: ₳15,000

Total Project Budget: ₳200,000

[RESOURCES & VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

Expertise and Quality: The costs described for each milestone reflect the involvement of skilled professionals, consultants, and developers with expertise in blockchain technology, smart contract development, UI/UX design, and integration with Atala Prism. By investing in high-quality resources, the project ensures the delivery of a robust, secure, and user-friendly platform that aligns with industry best practices.

Complexity and Innovation: Building a comprehensive learning platform integrated with verification and job placement functionalities on Cardano Blockchain and Atala Prism involves intricate technical work and innovative solutions. The costs associated with development, integration, and testing reflect the complexity and sophistication of the project, ensuring that it meets the ecosystem's needs and addresses the identified challenges.

Market Rates and Industry Standards: The costs presented in the budget breakdown are based on prevailing market rates and industry standards for professionals and services involved in blockchain development, smart contracts, UX/UI design, integration consulting, testing, and project management. These rates are generally proportional to the average wages and typical freelance rates in the respective industries and also with the context of Africa being the location of our organization, the cost of development will be lower than other jurisdictions. We also intend to have a huge team of interns who have been part of the Africa Blockchain Center cohorts to learn and build systems in the 

Value in Efficiency and Trust: The project's value lies in the long-term efficiency and trust it brings to the education and job placement processes. By streamlining verification, enhancing transparency, and providing efficient job matching, the platform reduces administrative burden, minimizes fraud, and improves overall productivity. These benefits result in cost savings, time savings, and enhanced opportunities for students, employers, and educational institutions.

Projected Impact and Return on Investment: The project aims to address significant challenges in the education and employment systems, ultimately improving outcomes for stakeholders. The projected impact includes reduced verification time and costs, increased trust and transparency, improved job placement efficiency, and enhanced collaboration and innovation within the Cardano ecosystem. These outcomes offer a significant return on investment for the resources allocated to the project.

Potential Clients in the Sales Pipeline : We do have a wide array of potential customers in industries across different verticals who would actually benefit from the solution and offer a potential revenues for the organization. This also means that the more clients we onboard, the more revenue as well to Cardano based on the transactional costs revenue that can be beneficial to the Cardano Blockchain Network.

[IMPORTANT NOTE] The Applicant agreed to Fund10 rules and also that data in the Submission Form and other data provided by the project team during the course of the project will be publicly available.

I Accept