Esusu Meets Cardano : Driving Financial Inclusion, Transparency and Accountability in Nigeria's Esusu Groups.

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Ona Ohimor

[GENERAL] Email address of main applicant

onaohimor@gmail.com

Additional applicants

Daniel Effiom

Ubio Obi

Newman Lanier

[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.” .

No dependencies.

[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

DAO

[METADATA] SDG rating

SDG Goals

8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

SDG Subgoals

8.2 - Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors

[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.

In Nigeria and many African communities, there are savings and money lending organizations called AJO or Esusu. They are detailed in this wikipedia page, “Rotating savings and credit association

Our goal is to do an outreach campaign to these groups to research and understand the system and determine if Cardano is a good fit. We will listen to the group members for the problems they encounter and explain blockchain and help them to use Cardano wallets. 

The project is divided into two phases that reflect the two groups of stakeholders. In phase one, we will do outreach, education and onboarding to Nigerians involved in esusu lending programs. The goal is to explain blockchain to them as well as listen to them about how the Esusu groups work and their experience. This will be invaluable information for the Cardano developers community.

Phase two is a similar outreach and education campaign for the Cardano developers community. The goal is to present the phase one research in an understandable way and answer the question - “Can cardano smart contracts be built to effectively address the needs of Esusu groups?”

The Nigerian Esusu project will have a sustainable economic impact by providing solutions to the challenges holding back these groups from growth and scaling.

We feel there is a real need in the Esusu community which the cardano community can uniquely address. Our team is ready, willing and able to bring these two groups together for mutual benefit.

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

An initial first step is educating leaders and members of Esusu groups on the potential of Blockchain in addressing some of the challenges holding their effectiveness and growth as groups.

Ultimately, the project will create new Cardano users and onboard existing groups using Cardano DAO tools after a detailed understanding of their peculiarities.  

The project will provide foundational research for anyone interested in Esusu type rotational lending practice. We believe there is opportunity for Cardano Developers to build DAO tools in support of Esusu groups. There is opportunity for Esusu groups to become Cardano DAOs. This is a win-win situation for Developers and the people engaged in Esusu.

Find below how this proposal meets key highlights of the DAO Challenge in Fund10 :

• Number of Communities engaged in collaboration using Cardano DAO creation tools.
• While the research and campaign workshops don’t involve DAO tooling, they do bring together communities that have a need for Cardano infrastructure and tools.  
• The glossary tool will be available for community wide use.
• Phase one will find and connect groups interested in collaboration with Cardano DAO tools in the specific area of financial inclusion and Esusu.   
• Amount of ADA coming from DAOs transaction fees after the solutions on this challenge get implemented (> than the challenge's allocated fund amount)
• As the members and groups are onboarded utilizing Cardano wallet add DAO tools.
• Number of DAOs that use Cardano as governance/management chain in 6 months.
• We will onboard up to five (5) Esusu groups as DAOs on Cardano.
• Number of DAOs toolset/frameworks available for DAO Ops (>1).
•    A glossary of Esusu and Cardano terms
• Additional not yet existing tools to give Cardano a distinct advantage
•  Ultimately, we would like to see a comprehensive DAO creation template for Esusu groups. The proposal provides the foundational elements and tools for that.

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

Quantitative Metrics

1. Number of Esusu groups contacted.
2. Number of groups surveyed.
3. Number of facilitation sessions conducted.
4. Number of individuals and groups onboarded to Cardano and new wallets created.
5. Workshops with Esusu groups.
6. Workshops with Cardano developer community.

Qualitative

1. Outreach documents detailing response from survey.
2. Website with research output and mailing list.
3. A glossary of Esusu terms and Cardano Blockchain terms.
4. Solutions to identified Esusu groups challenges.
5. Opportunities introduced to Cardano developer community

Glossary

Number of users of the Cardano Esusu glossary.

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

There will be website with a mailing list and a place to access the materials of the project. Contact information of the team members will be available.

We will publicly share our milestone and closeout reports with the Cardano community and other interested parties.

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

The team behind the project come with valuable experience both within and outside of web3 and a strong commitment to delivering sustainable solutions. To ensure this is achieved, the project has been divided into phases and milestones with clear deliverables.

This proposal will fund a team 4 persons (2 in Nigeria and 1 in North America and 1 in India) over 7 months with 4 key milestones involving separate workshops to Esusu groups and the Cardano developers. This will ultimately provide sustainable solutions for greater productivity and growth of Esusu groups.

Ona Ohimor

The lead proposer is a finance professional and trainer. He has been in web3 for over three years, initially as a crypto enthusiast but now a Blockchain and Web3 evangelist. He has trained and on-boarded dozens of newbies to Blockchain. Besides, his passion for crypto, he is an advocate for small and growing business and provides functional skills training for businesses.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/onoakpomaohimor

Daniel Effiom

An experienced fintech professional and member of the Cardano community in Nigeria.

Newman (@Newman5) 

Project Catalyst contributor since Fund7. Member of several Catalyst Groups such as the ‘DAOs love Cardano’ challenge team. I am a trained facilitator and focus on documentation of group activities. For this project, I accept the role of coordinator and project catalyst consultant.

Ubio Obi

Ubio is the CEO of Remostart, a blockchain and AI researcher. Ubio has about 4 years of experience in researching, his research works have cut across different fields, from AI, to IoT, Agriculture, environment, blockchain, HR, human behaviour etc. I have about 7 research paper published in reputable journals like the American Institute of Physics, IEEE etc, I have 2 patents under application and a Copyright on a book titled "Research writing for beginners". All these qualify me as one capable of handling this project.

Furthermore collaboration and engagements with the Cardano Community as we go from one milestone to another will ensure accountability.

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

Goals include:

1. Detailed and documented understanding of the Esusu and AJO groups workings and challenges.
2. Exposing Cardano developers to the needs and challenges of Esusu groups.
3. Provide Blockchain and Web3 basics training to enable members appreciate the value and benefits of adopting.
4. Get members of the groups to onboard to Cardano and utilize Cardano wallets and DAO tools.
5. Delivery of a glossary of Esusu and Cardano Blockchain terms.
6. Proffer solutions and tools that will meet the needs of Esusu groups and foster growth and greater productivity.
7. Provide foundational structures for future Blockchain solutions and tools for Esusu and similar groups.

Objectives include:

1. A public website with research links and relevant documentation
2. Plan and deliver research and outreach workshops to Esusu groups
3. Plan and deliver research and outreach workshops to Cardano groups
4. Create a Esusu / Cardano glossary

As part of validating our approach, we will ensure initial and continued engagements with all relevant stakeholders and the Cardano Community for feedbacks.

[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.

Two main phases:

Phase 1 - Research and Outreach / Education Campaign

(Milestones 1 & 2)

Phase 2 - Tooling

(Milestones 3 & 4)

Milestone 1:

Prepare, Promotion and Informational Sessions

Month 1 (October 2023)

• Team formation with roles and responsibilities
• Project management setup. Establish Communication and documentation methods (decide on Discord, Asana, project management tools. Also a documentation plan.
• Preliminary survey of Esusu groups - finding groups and build the survey
• Preliminary survey of Cardano Developer groups - finding groups and build the survey
• website creation
• progress reporting (for Project Catalyst and Group members)

Month 2 (November 2023)

• promote workshops - asynchronous (Social Media, Adwords / paid Ad campaigns)
• promote workshops - synchronous (live presentations, After TownHall, AMA on Forums and Twitter spaces)
• Prepare and deliver Esusu information session 1 hour
• Prepare and deliver Cardano Developer information session 1 hour
• Gather feedback
• Create an insights report on all informational sessions
• progress reporting (for Project Catalyst and Group members)

Milestone 2

Esusu Groups Workshops

Month 3-4 (December 2023 - January 2024)

• Design, Develop and implement Blockchain education for Esusu groups. Esusu workshops (3 hour) At least two workshops. At least 5 Esusu groups (15 to 25 people)

Milestone 3

Cardano Developers Workshops

Month 5 - 6 (February and March 2024)

• Outreach to blockchain / Cardano Developers interested Esusu opportunities
• Design, Develop and implement “Cardano DAO tooling for Esusu” feasibility workshop. Cardano Developer workshops (3 hour)
• At least two workshops. At least 5 developer groups (15 to 25 people)

Milestone 4:

Finalize and Close out

Month 7 - (April 2024)

• Finish development of glossary
• Finalise project
• Create closeout report and video

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

Milestone 1:

Month 1 (October 2023)

Deliverables:

• Website 
• team member mailing list and social media accounts
• Project Management Documents
• surveys
• preliminary list of Esusu groups 
• preliminary list of Cardano Developers 
• milestone report

Month 2 (November 2023)

Deliverables:

• promotional campaign documents and records
• Esusu group mailing list
• Information sessions: agenda, presentation and feedback
• Summative Evaluation report for information sessions
• Milestone report

Milestone 2:

Month 3-4 (December 2023 - January 2024)

Deliverables:

• Esusu workshop materials: agenda, video, training records, feedback
• Milestone report

Milestone 3:

Month 5 - 6 (February - March 2024)

Deliverables:

• A glossary of Esusu and Cardano financial terminology
• workshop materials: agenda, video, training records, feedback documentation.
• Milestone report

Milestone 4:

Month 7 (April 2024)

Deliverables:

• Closeout report and video
• “Cardano DAO tooling for Esusu groups” - Feasibility analysis document

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

 

Budget Item

 

Amount

 

promote workshops - asynchronous (Social Media, Adwords / paid Ad campaigns)

 

₳3,000.00

promote workshops - synchronous (live presentations, After TownHall, and Twitter spaces)

 

₳3,000.00

Social Media Management tool (year account)

 

₳1,000.00

Team formation with roles and responsibilities

 

₳1,000.00

team salary / assistant - (non- gig, non hourly compensation) (2 of 7 months)

 

₳2,000.00

team salary / lead - (non- gig, non hourly compensation) (2 of 7 months)

 

₳4,000.00

website creation

 

₳1,000.00

Zoom room (year account)

 

₳500.00

1 Total

MILESTONE ONE

 

₳32,000.00

Deliver Esusu workshops

 

₳15,000.00

Initial ADA for "new to cardano wallet" (for 5 workshopsX wallets/workshop X Ada per wallet)

 

₳6,250.00

team salary / assistant - (non- gig, non hourly compensation) (2 of 7 months)

 

₳2,000.00

team salary / lead - (non- gig, non hourly compensation) (2 of 7 months)

 

₳4,000.00

2 Total

MILESTONE TWO

 

₳27,250.00

Design and Develop Esusu workshops (3 hour) - At least 5 workshops. to 5 Esusu groups (15 to 25 people)

 

₳15,000.00

Design, Develop and implement “Cardano DAO tooling for Esusu” feasibility workshop. Cardano Developer workshops (3 hour)

 

₳1,000.00

Outreach to blockchain / Cardano Developers interested Esusu opportunities

 

₳1,000.00

team salary / assistant - (non- gig, non hourly compensation) (3 of 7 months)

 

₳3,000.00

team salary / lead - (non- gig, non hourly compensation) (3 of 7 months)

 

₳6,000.00

3 Total

MILESTONE THREE

 

₳26,000.00

At least two workshops. At least 5 developer groups (15 to 25 people) - with the groups for in-depth assessment of challenges and needs.

 

₳12,000.00

Create closeout report and video

 

₳7,500.00

design and begin development of glossary of Esusu and Cardano financial terminology

 

₳5,000.00

Finalise project

 

₳2,500.00

finish development of glossary

 

₳5,000.00

4 Total

MILESTONE FOUR

 

₳32,000.00

TOTAL

GRAND TOTAL

 

₳117,250.00

 

Milestone 1 - A32,000 (27.29%)

Milestone 2 - A27,250 (23.24%)

Milestone 3 - A26,000 (22.18%)

Milestone 4 - A32,000 (27.29%)

Total - A117,250 (100%)

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

This proposal will fund:

• A team 4 people - 2 in Nigeria and 1 in North America and 1 in India
• Development over 7 months and 4 milestones
• 7 workshops (live and online): 5 for Esusu group and 2 for Cardano Developer groups 
• Promotion campaigns 
• Facilitated, scientific user research and reportingl Esusu / Cardano glossary
• In order to form the basis of further partnership and development on Esusu and Cardano

With the following expected outcomes, the project is value for money:

• Promotion of Cardano Blockchain and DAO tools to Esusu groups in Nigeria.
• Creations of wallets of people new to Blockchain and Cardano users.
• Esusu groups as a Cardano DAO.
• Potential large market adoption
• A new style of DAO and financial inclusion and protection
• New DAOs brought to Cardano
• Partnerships and Collaboration among Cardano groups and tools

[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