Beyond Atala Prism: SSI, Grassroots Participation and Emergent Solutions in DIDs

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Wada Global Network

[GENERAL] Email address of main applicant

hello@wadalliance.org

Additional applicants

Frederic

Mercy

Wada Hub Leads in 10 Communities throughout West and Central Africa

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

12

[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?

Yes

[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.” .

The success of this proposal will depend largely on the extend to which the Atala Prism team makes the tech available and willingness to collaborate to achieve project goals.

At the time of writing this email, there seems to be indications of a willingness on the part of the Atala Prism team to expand the reach and usage of the Atala Prism technology

[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

Identity Solutions

[METADATA] SDG rating

SDG Goals

4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

SDG Subgoals

4.4 - By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship

4.5 - By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations

4.6 - By 2030, ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy

9.1 - Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all

Key Performance Indicator (KPI)

4.4.1 - Proportion of youth and adults with information and communications technology (ICT) skills, by type of skill

4.5.1 - Parity indices (female/male, rural/urban, bottom/top wealth quintile and others such as disability status, indigenous peoples and conflict-affected, as data become available) for all education indicators on this list that can be disaggregated

4.6.1 - Proportion of population in a given age group achieving at least a fixed level of proficiency in functional (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills, by sex

[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.

Our aim is to tackle the underutilization of Atala Prism's capabilities, particularly its self-sovereign identity (SSI) solutions potential, which currently limits Cardano's advancement and leaves a large portion of the global population, especially in Africa, underserved by identity solutions.

The focus of our approach is to extend Atala Prism's influence in order to promote user-friendly identity solutions throughout West and Central Africa following the initial successes in Ethiopia by the Atala Prism team. This is rooted in recognizing the challenges posed by centralized systems and tapping into the transformative potential of SSI solutions.

This project will foster partnerships with key participants in the Cardano ecosystem and local communities, software creators, policymakers, and particularly the end-users who stand to benefit most from secure, verifiable digital identities.

We will use Wada's community hubs in West and Central Africa as platforms for grassroots engagement, fostering an atmosphere of innovative solution design, information sharing, and wider adoption.

Quantitative Measures,

Attendance and engagement metrics at our educational sessions,

stakeholder engagement events, and

stated project output achievements

Qualitative Measures,

evaluating levels of engagement and user satisfaction. Our success will be gauged by the extent of interest, creativity, and exploration of decentralized identity and SSI solutions in the involved communities.

This project will emphasize individual and communities grassroot wisdom elicitation and participation, to demonstrate dedication to the journey of decentralization. Thus offering alternative views to the issues associated with centralized identity systems, particularly for marginalized and vulnerable communities.

Our initiative benefits both individuals, local communities by ultimately giving them control over their digital identities. For the Cardano ecosystem by attracting more users and fostering its growth. The initiative aligns directly with Cardano's foundational philosophy of empowering individuals through decentralization, further stimulating network growth and adoption.

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

This project sets out to strengthen the Cardano ecosystem by publicizing, enriching and enabling utilization of Atala Prism's DID solution options. This will lead to a healthier, wider-reaching community of users, developers, and stakeholders. By engaging with Wada's network of community hubs, we aim to encourage local participation and encourage innovative ideas that draw more individuals and businesses into Cardano. Over an achievable timeframe, we anticipate a significant increase in users and transactions within the Cardano network to solidify its growth and contributing significantly to overall value.

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

Our strategy will focus on both quantitative and qualitative measures, to align with our objective of expanding understanding and driving innovation in Decentralized ID and Self-Sovereign Identity solutions using Wada hub members as a launchpad

Applied Innovation: A key indicator of success will be the emergence of novel and inventive design of Decentralized ID and SSI solutions within the Cardano ecosystem.

Knowledge Sharing: Track the participation and engagement in our workshops, webinars, and training sessions. Feedback surveys and Q&A interactions will also help gauge the depth of understanding gained by participants.

Governance Frameworks Impact: The integration of the project's outputs into Cardano's governance model is crucial. We'll assess how effectively these outputs are incorporated and the subsequent enhancements they bring to the ecosystem's overall stability and sustainability.

Community Participation: The level of collaborative engagement on the ground, in local communities and within the Cardano community, particularly in terms of creating, discussing, and implementing innovative ideas, will serve as an important qualitative measure of success.

Benefits

Short-Term:

• Enhance the Cardano community's understanding and capabilities regarding Decentralized ID and SSI solutions.
• Cultivate a conducive environment for creative exploration and the emergence of innovative applications.
• Strengthen Cardano's governance framework through the integration of project outputs.

Long-Term:

• Establish a robust and informed community of developers, policy makers, and end-users that continues to generate and implement innovative ideas.
• Promote an ongoing culture of innovation that attracts more developers and users to the Cardano ecosystem.
• Long-term sustainability of the Cardano ecosystem as it adapts and evolves with the developments in Decentralized ID and SSI solutions.

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

We will communicate the project's outcomes and ensure they reach a broad and diverse audience across and beyond the Cardano ecosystem. We will do this by exploring a range of engagement and information-sharing methods. 

• Project Reports
• Project Catalyst Closeout Reports
• Community Updates
• Participation in DID and Atala Prism Events
• Use of Interactive Platforms 
• Media Outreach
• Whitepaper of Project outputs

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

Wada is a Cardano-based community network of 35+ professionals focused on connecting the world to Africa using blockchain and AI. 30+ funded and completed proposals with strong partnerships within the Catalyst ecosystem. A trusted source for both Africa-based projects and wider ecosystem contributions.

Relying on our past experience and successful project completions, our team is ready to take on this proposal with responsibility and reliability. We plan to manage funds with the help of a trusted treasury management operator within the Cardano ecosystem.

We'll use Catalyst's milestone-based method for fund allocation. This way, funds are released as we achieve specific outcomes and deliverables. Our team has a knack for working well with communities and organizations. We've done everything from Wada hubs to community facilitation, so we know how to connect with key participants and early adopters who are crucial to this proposal.

Our team includes effective project managers who have finished multiple proposals in Catalyst, provided useful insights for Challenge Teams, and gained experiences from various organizations outside of Cardano. Each team member brings their own set of skills to the table.

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

The key objectives for our initiative include:

Consult Key Partners: Our strategy is to unite essential stakeholders within the Cardano ecosystem and local communities and countries, incorporating developers and policy makers. The goal is to catalyze a broader acceptance and application of DID and SSI solutions.

Community Decentralization: We plan to explore how to provide communities with secure, user-controlled digital identities, to enhance their sense of autonomy and independence.

Governance Frameworks Enhancement: Our project will also incorporate our outputs and SSI solution options into an existing governance structure, contributing to the overarching stability and sustainability of the Cardano ecosystem.

Broaden Atala Prism Pioneer Program Participation: Our goal is to increase involvement in the Atala Prism Pioneer Program up to a maximum of 10 Wada community members per hub. This will foster greater understanding, skill development, and familiarity with Atala Prism's offerings amongst stakeholders and communities.

To assess the viability of our approach, we will utilize a combination of quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods:

Partner Insights: Collecting regular feedback from diverse stakeholders to gauge if potential DID solutions meet their needs and adjusting our approach as necessary.

Community Engagement Levels: Monitoring participation levels within Wada's community hubs and in-country stakeholders, using active engagement in discussions, workshops, and events as indicators of the success of our grassroots strategy.

Innovation and Adoption Indicators: Measuring the level of interest, inventive use, and potential acceptance of DID and SSI solutions within the involved communities.

Whitepaper: We will write a comprehensive whitepaper that outlines our approach and the potential of Atala Prism. We will enable local hubs come up with list of opportunities of did implementation in Africa which will be incorporated into the whitepaper. The paper will serve as an educational resource and a tangible demonstration of the feasibility and impact. Its successful completion and reception will further validate our strategy.

[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.

Our project structure ensures that we focus on information dissemination about DID and SSI to fostering innovation in these areas. This ensures that the project offers good value for money for the Cardano ecosystem, help to drive user engagement, increase knowledge, and stimulate innovation.

Project Kickoff & Team Assembling (Month 1): Form a dedicated project team with necessary expertise in DID and SSI. Onboard team through registration and completion of the Atala Prism Pioneer Program Establish clear communication channels, roles, and responsibilities. Prepare a comprehensive project plan.

Budget: 20,000 ADA

Stakeholder Outreach & Information Gathering (Months 2-3): Identify and reach out to key stakeholders, including developers, policy makers, and potential solution users users. Collect information about their understanding, needs, and expectations related to DID and SSI.

Budget: 40,000 ADA

Information Dissemination & Innovation Brainstorming (Months 4-6): Share findings and knowledge about DID and SSI with stakeholders through workshops, webinars, and information packets. Facilitate brainstorming sessions to stimulate innovative ideas for DID and SSI implementation.

Budget: 60,000 ADA

Innovation Exploration & Whitepaper Drafting (Months 7-9): Select the most promising innovation ideas, develop prototypes where possible, and test their feasibility. Begin drafting a comprehensive whitepaper detailing the project's process, findings, and innovative solutions for DID and SSI.

Budget: 50,000 ADA

Whitepaper Finalization & Distribution (Months 10-11): Complete and review the whitepaper, incorporating feedback from stakeholders. Distribute the finalized whitepaper across various channels, targeting key stakeholders and the wider Cardano community.

Budget: 35,000 ADA

Evaluation & Recommendations (Month 12): Assess the project's outcomes against the set objectives. Collect stakeholder feedback to gauge the project's impact on knowledge enhancement and innovation generation. Prepare a report outlining the project's achievements, lessons learned, and recommendations for future initiatives.

Budget: 45,000 ADA

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

Project Kickoff (Month 1): Form a dedicated project team with necessary expertise in DID and SSI. Onboard team through registration and completion of the Atala Prism Pioneer Program. Establish clear communication channels, roles, and responsibilities. Prepare a comprehensive project plan.

Budget: 20,000 ADA

Stakeholder Outreach & Information Gathering (Months 2-3): Identify and reach out to key stakeholders, including developers, policy makers, and users. Collect information about their understanding, needs, and expectations related to DID and SSI.

Budget: 40,000 ADA

Information Dissemination & Innovation Brainstorming (Months 4-6): Share findings and knowledge about DID and SSI with stakeholders through workshops, webinars, and information packets. Facilitate brainstorming sessions to stimulate innovative ideas for DID and SSI implementation.

Budget: 60,000 ADA

Innovation Exploration & Whitepaper Drafting (Months 7-9): Select the most promising innovation ideas, develop prototypes, and test their feasibility. Begin drafting a comprehensive whitepaper detailing the project's process, findings, and innovative solutions for DID and SSI.

Budget: 50,000 ADA

Whitepaper Finalization & Distribution (Months 10-11): Complete and review the whitepaper, incorporating feedback from stakeholders. Distribute the finalized whitepaper across various channels, targeting key stakeholders and the wider Cardano community.

Budget: 35,000 ADA

Evaluation & Recommendations (Month 12): Assess the project's outcomes against the set objectives. Collect stakeholder feedback to gauge the project's impact on knowledge enhancement and innovation generation. Prepare a report outlining the project's achievements, lessons learned, and recommendations for future initiatives.

Budget: 45,000 ADA

This project structure ensures that we focus on spreading information about DID and SSI and fostering innovation in these areas. By doing so, the project offers good value for money for the Cardano ecosystem, helping to drive user engagement, increase knowledge, and stimulate innovation.

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

The rate used for this budget is 1ADA to .25USD. We will change to stablecoins as much as possible and depending on how prices fluctuate at time of project implementation we will be able to do more or scale down project goals

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

The 250,000 ADA investment will drive network growth, community development, innovation generation, and enhance decentralization, aligning with Cardano's mission and contributing to its long-term success.

1. Expanded Reach: Use Wada's community hubs for grassroots adoption and enhanced reach of Atala Prism, driving network activity and boosting Cardano's market share.
2. Community Building: Actively engaging and educating local communities, fostering grassroots support, and creating Cardano ambassadors in emerging markets.
3. Innovation Generation: Stimulating creativity around decentralized identity solutions, driving Cardano's continuous evolution and relevance, especially within Africa.
4. Innovation Catalyst: Focusing on stakeholder consultation and innovation to develop new applications and services, to foster a dynamic ecosystem.
5. Decentralization Strength: Promote SSI solutions and their integration into governance structures, reinforcing Cardano's decentralization mission.
6. Community Engagement: Involving local communities, building a stronger base of Cardano users, and equipping a new generation with necessary skills for ecosystem stability.
7. Governance Framework: Potential integration of project's findings into ecosystem governance, enhancing Cardano's decentralization.
8. Future Initiatives Model: Serving as a prototype for effective community engagement, education, and innovation fostering in regions like Africa.

[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