Fueling Africa's Cardano Revolution: Empowering university graduates with PRISM based credentials that facilitate job opportunities in Europe.

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Henrik Metsämäki

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

Entity (Incorporated)

[GENERAL] Requested funds in ada

120000

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

6

[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)

Issuing 500 new VCs to Ethiopian graduates in higher education and exploring their efficiency in facilitating employment opportunities across Europe through a pilot program.

[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

Our project outputs will be fully open source. We will publish the results of the initiatives and provide access to relevant data while ensuring transparency throughout the process. However, as our project focuses on adoption rather than technical creations, no new technical creations will be developed.

[METADATA] SDG rating

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

• 8.5 - By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value
• 8.6 - By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training

SDG Goal 9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.

SDG Goal 10. Reduce inequality within and among countries

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Cardano's identity solution is generating buzz in Ethiopia, especially with IOG's implementation with MoE and high schools. Building upon this positive momentum, Fairway is pioneering the implementation of VCs and PRISM in the Ethiopian higher education that is tailored for the creation of employment opportunities in Europe.Between Q3 2023- Q1 2024 we established a partnership with two Ethiopian Universities and facilitated issuing of initial 50 Proof of Graduation Credentials for graduates in the IT fields https://fairway.global/Projects

Our vision is to strengthen these partnerships and expand our reach to additional universities and strengthen the existing ones, enabling us to issue a total of 500 additional credentials to deserving graduates in the higher education.

Additionally, we want to implement these issued credentials and pilot their impact in a real world remote recruitment process for job opportunities in Europe. During the project we will conduct remote hiring piloting, where we utilize the use of verified educational credentials during the hiring process for 3rd party businesses and employers in Europe.

This project not only supports the growth of the Cardano community but also contributes to the socioeconomic development of Ethiopia by empowering its youth with verifiable digital identities.

With 120k ADA in funding, we are poised to make significant strides in scaling university adoption of Cardano-based SSI in Ethiopia and to unlock boundless opportunities for African students, and to contribute to their success on the global stage.

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

Our project aims to significantly increase the adoption of Decentralized Identities in a key market like Ethiopia. By successfully issuing verifiable credentials to university graduates, we provide a compelling case study showcasing the potential of this technology. This increased adoption not only benefits the Ethiopian community by providing greater access to employment opportunities but also enhances the credibility and visibility of Cardano technology within the global market. Moreover, it increases the likelihood of major players in our ecosystem, such as IOG, expanding their partnerships to higher education institutions in Ethiopia and other African countries.

Furthermore, the issued credentials will be utilized in remote hiring in Europe exposing european IT businesses and outsourced hiring market to the benefits of VCs and blockhain in hiring.

[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?

We have a proven track record of delivering successful projects, including a previous Catalyst project and similar projects on a smaller scale. We have the necessary expertise and experience to execute this initiative effectively. We will validate the feasibility of our approach through stakeholder discussions, partnership proposals, and continuous assessment of project milestones. This project has a scope of expanding and scaling the type operations we have already achieved before, namely expanding the partnerships from 50 graduates to 550.

Moreover, on the SSI implementation part, Fairway has an active relationship and integration with Proofspace and a technical team that has completed PRISM Pioneers Program and has blockchain expertise.

Additionally, our company has an operational branch, business licence and a functional team in Ethiopia. More about our previous project: https://fairway.global/Projects

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

Partnership creation and Pilot initiation (2 months):

• Goal: Secure university partnerships and onboard existing institutions onto credentialing platforms.
• Key Deliverables:Signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with additional Ethiopian universities consisting up to 500 new graduates
• Designation of point-of-contact personnel at each university.
• Providing a training program for partner’s representatives and credential issuers (University or MoE personnel.
• Successful integration of Verifiable Credentials and SSI with existing partners

Milestone 2. Credential Issuance & Graduate Preparation (2 Months)

• Goal: Issue verifiable credentials and equip graduates with European job market skills.
• Key Deliverables:Issuing of 500 verifiable credentials on the Cardano blockchain to deserving graduates meeting pre-defined criteria (e.g., academic achievement, specific IT fields).
• Verification of all issued credentials on Cardano.
• Development of a workshop focused on European job application processes and cultural considerations.
• Delivery of career workshops to graduates across partnered institutions

Milestone 3. Pilot Recruitment Program Launch (1 Month)

• Goal: Secure partnerships with European companies seeking remote talent and launch the pilot program.
• Key Deliverables:Secured partnership agreements with at least 3 European companies actively seeking qualified remote talent.
• Successful launch of the pilot remote recruitment program utilizing issued Cardano-based credentials for applicant verification.

Program Analysis & Impact Assessment (1 Month)

• Goal: Evaluate the pilot program's effectiveness and gather valuable insights.
• Key Deliverables:Completion of a comprehensive report analyzing the pilot program's effectiveness, including data on applicant success rates, employer feedback, and key learnings for future iterations.

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

Project lead: Henrik Metsämäki - Co-Founder & CEO at Fairway. Henrik has successfully led multiple similar projects funded by the Finnish government and The Project Catalyst. He has participated in Cardano Community 3+ years and regularly met with IOG experts, visited Catalyst Town Hall and Belongs to Atala PRSIM Discord community. Henrik has planned this project and identified strategies and methods for its execution. He will also be in charge of the reporting.

Partnership & Network Manager: Gemechis Marema - CCO at Fairway. Gemechis’s role is to build connections and Partnerships. Gemechis has successfully established partnerships with Higher education institutions in Ethiopia before.

Technical lead at Fairway:Kidus Wendimagegn Mammo - CTO at Fairway. Kidus was the technical lead of the previous catalyst project spearheading the team to deliver needed changes for the project. Kidus has experience on SSI, information security, Plutus and Marlow and is long standing experience leading projects. Kidus will be the key to technical leadership in this project as well.

Operational management: Heikki Ruhanen - Co-Founder & COO. 

More about Fairway.

Proofspace - SSI solution

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

Milestone 1: Partnership & Platform Integration (2 Months) (30,000 ADA)

• Key Cost Drivers: Staff time for partnership development, training, and platform integration. Potential travel costs for university visits. Platform licensing fees (if applicable).
• Allocation Breakdown (proportional to estimated effort):
• Personnel: 60% (18,000 ADA)
• Travel & Accommodation: 15% (4,500 ADA)
• Technology & Software: 15% (4,500 ADA)
• Materials & Supplies: 10% (3,000 ADA)

Milestone 2: Credential Issuance & Graduate Preparation (2 Months) (42,000 ADA)

• Key Cost Drivers: Process of meeting and communicating with partner universities. Process of arranging credential issuing and manually verifying candidates’ identities with the universities. Arranging of the workshops. in Staff time for workshop development and delivery. Materials for workshops and credential printing (optional).
• Allocation Breakdown:
• Personnel: (30,200 ADA)
• Technology & Software: (5,500 ADA) (mostly on partner software)
• Materials & Supplies: 15% (6,300 ADA)

Milestone 3: Pilot Recruitment Program Launch (1 Months) (24,000 ADA)

• Key Cost Drivers: Outreach and marketing to Pilot partners in Europe. Creation and provision of educational content about SSI. Personnel costs. Potential travel costs.
• Allocation Breakdown:
• Personnel: 60% (14,400 ADA)
• Travel & Accommodation: 20% (4,800 ADA)
• Technology & Software: 20% (4,800 ADA)

Milestone Final: Program Analysis & Impact Assessment (1 Months) (24,000 ADA)

• Key Cost Drivers: Staff time for data analysis and report generation.
• Allocation Breakdown:
• Personnel: 100% (24,000 ADA)
• Contingency: 6,000 ADA (5% of total budget)

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

The cost of the project represents value for money for the Cardano ecosystem by driving adoption of Cardano-based SSI technology in a key market, contributing to the ecosystem's growth and innovation.

This project offers significant value for money to the Cardano ecosystem by:

• Expanding Cardano users and activity: Issuing 500 new real world Proof of Graduation Credentials on Cardano. This will bring a positive impact on telling Cardano story and expanding its real world use in Business and Governmental uses and add users.

• Expanding Cardano's utility: The project broadens the use cases for Cardano beyond just a financial platform. By integrating with verifiable credentials and facilitating remote recruitment, Cardano demonstrates its potential for real-world applications in education and employment.

• Attracting new talent and developers: A successful pilot program showcasing Cardano's capabilities in credential issuance and job placement can attract a wider pool of developers and talent to build innovative solutions on the Cardano blockchain.

• Enhancing Cardano's reputation: A well-executed project with positive outcomes can bolster Cardano's reputation for social impact and responsible technological advancement. This can attract more users and investors to the ecosystem.

• Demonstrating scalability and security: The project serves as a practical test case for Cardano's scalability and security in managing credential issuance and verification for a sizeable number of graduates. A successful outcome strengthens Cardano's position as a reliable platform for future endeavors.