CertiMuni - Decentralized Municipal Certificate Issuance Platform

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Guido Zatloukal

[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)

Entity (Incorporated)

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

10

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

No

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

CertiMuni uses the Cardano blockchain to enable municipalities to issue immutable and verifiable digital certificates, improving efficiency and transparency.

[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] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

The project’s output will be completely available to the public. With our experienced creative team, we will create audiovisual content on every step of the process, from the planning and setup stage, to the events themselves, focusing on the community building aspect of this endeavor, documenting its impact.

We are committed to ensuring transparency and to openly share every resource available with the community.

[METADATA] Horizons

Smart Contract

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

CertiMuni - Decentralized Municipal Certificate Issuance Platform

General Description: CertiMuni is a platform based on the Cardano blockchain that enables municipalities to issue, manage, and verify certificates digitally and in a decentralized manner. This solution is specifically designed for local governments seeking to increase efficiency, transparency, and security in the issuance of public documents such as building permits, residence certificates, business licenses, authorizations, and other municipal procedures.

Problem Addressed: Municipalities often face issues with document forgery and slow, bureaucratic processes for issuing certificates and permits. Currently, many of these processes are manual, increasing wait times and administrative costs, and exposing citizens to inefficient procedures. The lack of transparency and traceability in issuing these documents also generates distrust among citizens.

Proposed Solution: CertiMuni will allow municipalities to issue and store certificates digitally on the Cardano blockchain, ensuring that each issued certificate is immutable and instantly verifiable. The platform will offer:

• Immutable Issuance and Storage: Certificates will be registered immutably on the Cardano blockchain, eliminating the risk of forgery.
• Accessible Public Verification: Any citizen, company, or organization can verify the authenticity of a municipal certificate by scanning a QR code or entering the certificate's unique code on the platform.
• Efficient Procedure Management: Citizens can manage and request certificates through a user-friendly interface, reducing wait times and in-person visits to municipal offices.
• Total Transparency: The system provides full traceability of who issued the certificate and when, increasing trust in municipal procedures.

Use Cases:

• Building Permits: The municipality can issue building permits directly on the blockchain, allowing for quick verification by local authorities and companies.
• Residence Certificates: Citizens can request and receive residence certificates digitally without needing to visit municipal offices.
• Business Licenses: Licenses to open businesses can be issued digitally, facilitating the verification process for business owners and local authorities.
• Event Permits: Event organizers can obtain municipal permits more quickly and efficiently, with the possibility for third parties such as security forces or suppliers to verify them.

Project Components:

• Digital Issuance System: A control panel for municipal officials to manage the issuance and storage of certificates.
• Public Verification Portal: A website where citizens and third parties can verify the authenticity of documents issued by the municipality.
• Citizen Interface: A platform where citizens can request, receive, and manage their digital certificates.

Technology Used:

• Cardano Blockchain: All certificates will be immutably registered on Cardano, ensuring their authenticity and long-term durability.
• Smart Contracts: Used to automate the issuance and verification process of certificates.
• Cardano Wallet: Citizens can store their certificates in their own digital wallets, facilitating access at any time.

Development Plan:

• Phase 1: Development of the MVP with basic issuance and verification for municipal certificates like building permits and business licenses.
• Phase 2: System expansion to include more types of certificates and advanced functions, such as direct interaction with other municipal platforms.
• Phase 3: Pilot implementation in municipalities in Argentina, with the possibility of expansion to other regions and countries.

Benefits for Municipalities:

• Cost Reduction: Decrease in costs associated with issuing paper documents and maintaining traditional document management systems.
• Greater Transparency and Citizen Trust: By using blockchain, the certificate issuance process becomes completely transparent, strengthening trust in local institutions.
• Accessibility: Citizens can manage their procedures from anywhere, reducing the workload in municipal offices and improving service quality.

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

CertiMuni will positively impact the wider Cardano community by driving real-world adoption of the Cardano blockchain within the public sector. By enabling municipalities to issue, manage, and verify certificates on Cardano, we showcase the blockchain's capabilities in enhancing efficiency, transparency, and security in government services.

This adoption increases transaction volume and user engagement on the Cardano network, attracting more developers and organizations to the ecosystem. By integrating smart contracts and promoting the use of Cardano wallets among citizens, CertiMuni expands the user base and encourages further innovation within the community.

Furthermore, our project demonstrates Cardano's applicability in critical public infrastructure, which can inspire other sectors to explore Cardano-based solutions. This fosters broader ecosystem growth and reinforces Cardano's position as a leading platform for decentralized applications.

[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] 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?

Our ability to deliver this project with a high degree of confidence and responsibility is based on the vast experience and solid background of the members of our team and institutions.They have a proven track record in management and successful execution of initiatives aimed at creating communities and projects linked to blockchain.

Community Engagement: The active and systematic organization of numerous events, workshops and conferences within the blockchain industry demonstrates a clear and strong commitment to the development of transparent, diverse, and inclusive communities.

Metrics And impact measurement: During the execution of the project, we will establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and other essential metrics to evaluate both progress and impact generated. Event attendance, active participation of attendees, social media influence and integration of new developers, will be monitored and reported on periodically in order to validate and optimize the effectiveness of the project.

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

Milestone 1: Project Initiation and Planning

• Objectives:
• Establish the foundational framework for CertiMuni.
• Define project scope, requirements, and success criteria.
• Assemble the development team and allocate resources.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• Project Documentation Completed:
• Project scope and objectives are clearly defined and documented.
• Functional and non-functional requirements are specified.
• Success metrics and KPIs are established.

Milestone 2: Development of Core Blockchain Functionality

• Objectives:
• Develop smart contracts for certificate issuance and verification on the Cardano blockchain.
• Create a secure method for storing and retrieving certificates immutably.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• Smart Contracts Developed and Tested:
• Smart contracts for issuing, storing, and verifying certificates are coded.
• Contracts are deployed on the Cardano testnet.
• Unit tests cover all smart contract functions with 100% pass rate.

Milestone 3: Development of User Interfaces

• Objectives:
• Build intuitive interfaces for municipal officials, citizens, and public verifiers.
• Ensure seamless interaction with the blockchain backend.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• Municipal Official Dashboard:
• Allows officials to log in securely.
• Enables issuance and management of certificates.
• User-friendly interface with responsive design.

MVP Deployment and Pilot Testing

• Objectives:
• Deploy the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) with core functionalities.
• Conduct pilot testing with selected municipalities and gather feedback.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• MVP Deployment:
• MVP is deployed on the Cardano mainnet.
• All core functionalities (issuance, storage, verification) are operational.
• Pilot Testing Initiated:
• At least one municipality in Argentina onboarded for pilot.
• Municipal officials trained on using the system.
• Citizens able to request and receive certificates during the pilot.
• Performance Metrics Met:
• System handles expected load without performance degradation.
• Transaction success rate meets predefined thresholds.
• Feedback Collection and Iteration:
• Feedback from municipal officials and citizens collected.
• Critical issues identified during the pilot are addressed.
• Final Documentation:
• User manuals for all user types are completed.
• MVP features and limitations are documented.
• Stakeholder Sign-off:
• Pilot deemed successful based on predefined success criteria.
• Approval received to proceed to the next phases or wider implementation.

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

Guido Zatloukal : Project Lead - Workshop/Talks/Seminar Host and Participant

Guido Zatloukal is an experienced web developer with a 10-year track record in the tech industry. He was a key player in the implementation of the “NAC” an Argentine Digital Literacy project sponsored by the national government. Additionally, he is the co-founder and president of the Blockchain Argentina Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting awareness and widespread usage of blockchain technology in the country.

Alex Barros : General Project Manager - Workshop/Talks/Seminar Host and Participant

Co-Founder and Operations Director of the Argentine Blockchain Foundation, with ample experience in the field of communications/ marketing consulting, and an academic background in Political Science, a field that he studied at the University of Buenos Aires, bringing several diverse skill sets to the table that make him valuable to projects such as this, that requiere excellence in many different fields in order to succeed.

 https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-barros-garc%C3%ADa-536251134/ 

Victoria Belohlawek : Press and Communications Manager 

Journalist, plays a crucial role at the Blockchain Argentina Foundation as its press director . With a notable background in promoting cultural events and projects, she has brought her experience to the world of blockchain technology, boosting the visibility and impact of the foundation. Her unique combination of communication skills and passion for innovation makes her an invaluable asset to the organization and the sector as a whole.

[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Project Manager: Full-time for 10 months at $1,000 per month (Total: $10,000)

Development Team: Part-time for 10 months at $3,200 per month (Total: $32,000)

Design and Communications Team: Part-time for 10 months at $300 per month (Total: $3,000)

Web Design, Hosting, and Domain Costs: $1,500

Stationery, Banners, and Office Supplies: $800

TOTAL: $47,382 USD (138,594 ADA)

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

Investing in this project offers significant value for money for the Cardano ecosystem for several reasons:

Focused Development: This project is targeted towards Argentina, a territory with growing interest in blockchain technology. By channeling resources towards this area, we seek to capitalize on this market which we believe to be poised for Massive adoption of the Cardano Ecosystem.The costs are fully justified given the strategic relevance of entering this market.

Significant Impact: The planned events, workshops and meetups are designed to attract a high number of developers and creators to the Cardano ecosystem.The value of adding new talent and innovation to Cardano clearly outweighs the costs of these activities.

Balanced Budget: The budget has been meticulously calculated to ensure that it is tailored to the specific demands of the project.Expenses are directly correlated with the proposed objectives and goals, focusing on achieving developer onboarding, community strengthening, and increased Cardano awareness.