Make Cardano a better choice for SSI applications: Secure & Scalable Credential Verification with DApps

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

Developing a DApp for automated credential verification in recruitment, creating real-world use cases for the use of SSI with Cardano applications.

[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?

No

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

This project adopts a dual-licensing approach to the open-source status of its project outputs.

Here's a breakdown of this strategy:

1. Open-Source Version (MIT License):

• The core functionalities of the DApp, including the smart contract code and core user interface components, will be released under a permissive open-source license like the MIT License.
• This allows anyone to freely access, modify, and distribute the code for non-commercial purposes.
• Open-sourcing the core functionalities fosters community development, attracts developer contributions, and promotes transparency in the development process.

2. Commercially Licensed Version:

• An extended version of the DApp with additional features and functionalities tailored for commercial use will be available under a separate commercial license.
• This commercial license will restrict usage to businesses and organizations that require these additional features for deployment in a production environment.
• The specific terms of the commercial license will be defined to ensure appropriate compensation for the extended functionalities and ongoing support.

Our dual-licensing approach fosters a vibrant development community through an open-source core (MIT License), while ensuring project sustainability through a commercially licensed version with additional features. This transparency allows users to choose between the free version for non-commercial use or the feature-rich commercial version, all with clear licensing and comprehensive documentation.

[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

Self Sovereign Identity (SSI) lets you control your online identity, not companies. While blockchain applications and the use of smart contracts hold promise for making this a reality, SSI and DApps should be integrated seamlessly to unleash the true potential of these systems.

In our previous work in utilizing verifiable credentials in recruitment, we developed a prototype within our Web2 platform for universities to issue their graduates a verifiable education credential. Our platform facilitated the process by providing an easy to use interface for students to request credentials and universitys to issue them. The credential are issued directly to the SSI wallet of the student and it is signed by the unique DID of the university. Having issued the credentials to the students, we discovered a critical issue in utilizing them during the recruitment process: requesting the credentials from the applicants could only be done one at a time, it required manual approval from the applicants and resulted in the students sharing their credentials with our centralized platform, creating a single point of failure and vulnerability that contradicts decentralisation principles.

To overcome these challenges, we want to develop an MVP of a DApp to streamline credential verification in recruitment using blockchain technology. The developed DApp can also in principle be used in other community projects such as financial applications where a DApp is required to verify credentials of a user in the system for compliance reasons.

This DApp aims to achieve the following objectives:

• Employers can use the DApp to request verifiable credentials (VCs) directly from job seekers' SSI wallets.
• User privacy is maintained through cryptographic proofs without sharing sensitive data directly.
• Enhance user experience: Provide a seamless, Web3-native experience for credential requesting and viewing.

Here's a breakdown of the core functionalities:

1. DID Integration: The DApp will allow job seekers and employers to connect their DIDs securely. This establishes their digital identities within the application. (In prototype we have done DID integration, but to a Web2 application)
2. Smart Contract for requesting credential data: A smart contract will be developed to facilitate the requesting of credential data from the job seeker. Smart contracts handle the process, eliminating the need for a centralized platform.
3. Oracle verification: On-chain oracle is developed to ensure the authenticity of issued credentials. Oracle accesses Trust Registries online to verify the Credential Issuers. Oracle provides the data to the smart contract and the result is also displayed in a user friendly way in the application.
4. Multiple credential verifications: Scalability Improvements: Enable efficient verification of multiple credentials from various institutions. We will explore if it would be possible for the contract to request multiple credentials at once signatures contain references to Credentials associated to the signing DID wallet addresses.

Prototype:

Developed MVP:

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

This project aims to deliver a positive and measurable impact on the Cardano community by:

1. Expanding Real-World Use Cases:

• A successful MVP DApp showcasing scalable credential verification from SSI data is applicable in other industries, demonstrating Cardano's real-world utility beyond its current use cases.

2. Fostering Innovation and Collaboration:

• Open-sourcing the DApp's design research and core functionalities encourages developer adoption and attracts talent to the Cardano ecosystem.
• Collaboration with the community through workshops and presentations fosters innovation and leverages collective expertise.

3. Building Trust and Transparency:

• Secure verification with DIDs minimizes the risk of fraud and tampering, building trust within the recruitment sector and by extension the Cardano ecosystem.

[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?

Fairway's Expertise & Track Record:

Fairway brings a strong foundation to this Web3.0 job board concept. Here's how:

• Blockchain & Recruitment Experience: We have experience working on Catalyst-based recruitment solutions, demonstrating our understanding of blockchain technology and the recruitment landscape.

• Community Engagement: We actively engage with Cardano community members and participate to PRISM community events and discussions, fostering trust and gathering valuable insights.

• Market Research & Analysis: Past work in Europe and Ethiopia has provided us with a strong understanding of diverse hiring needs and regional considerations for online recruitment platforms.

Building on a Strong Foundation:

Fairway's experience, coupled with a commitment to comprehensive planning and community engagement, strengthens the potential for this Web3.0 job board concept to become a reality. By prioritizing proof-of-concept development, thorough market research, and iterative design based on user feedback, we can create a secure, transparent, and efficient job board that benefits the entire Cardano ecosystem.

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

Design system architecture (Duration: 1 Months)

• Define the overall system architecture for the DApp, detailing the interaction between components
• Select appropriate technologies for DApp development, considering scalability, security, and interoperability.
• Develop strategies to mitigate risks associated with DID integration and credential verification.
• Create user stories based on discussion with potential users and our experience.
• Design UI/UX wireframe and high fidelity prototype for the DApp.

DApp Development (Duration: 3 Months)

• Develop functionality to securely integrate DIDs for job seekers and employers into the DApp.
• Develop and deploy smart contracts to facilitate the requesting of credential data from job seekers.
• Integrate an oracle to ensure the authenticity of issued credentials.
• Implemented functionality for efficient verification of multiple credentials.

Integration and Testing (Duration: 2 Months)

• Integrated DApp with seamless communication between components and our existing platfrom.
• Conduct comprehensive end-to-end testing of the integrated DApp to ensure functionality and reliability.
• Test with job postings and multiple users and gather feedback
• Perform optimization and improvements based on feedback

Deployment and Reporting (Duration: 1 Month)

• Deploy the complete MVP DApp on a Cardano testnet environment.
• Present the MVP prototype to the Cardano community and gather feedback for future development.
• Project Close-out Report and Project Close-out Video (PCR and PCV)

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

To successfully deliver this project we propose assembling a dedicated team with expertise in blockchain technology, recruitment processes, and software development. Here's a breakdown of the core team members and their anticipated roles:

Project Lead (1 Person) - Heikki Ruhanen: Responsible for overall project management, including budget oversight, timeline adherence, and communication with stakeholders.

• Possesses strong leadership skills and experience in managing software development projects.

UX/UI Designer (1 Person) - Abrham Bunaro: Proven experience in user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design principles.

• Conducts user research to understand the needs and pain points of recruiters and job seekers when it comes to job contracts.
• Develops intuitive and user-friendly interfaces for the DApp, ensuring a smooth and efficient experience for all users.
• Creates wireframes and mockups to visualize the DApp's functionality and user flow.
• Collaborates with developers to ensure a seamless integration of design elements into the DApp.

Backend Developer (1 Person) - Kidus Wendimagegn Mammo: Proficient in the Django framework

• Responsible for developing the server-side logic, database integration, and API development for the DApp.
• Works closely with the DApp developers to ensure smooth integration of backend functionalities with the frontend.

Frontend Developer (1 Person) - Abrham Bunaro:Responsible for building responsive and user-friendly web interfaces.

• Collaborates closely with the UX/UI designer to ensure the DApp's design is implemented as per the specifications and provides a seamless user experience.

Blockchain Developer (DApp + smart contracts) (1 person) Ermias Bunaro: Highly skilled in Cardano smart contract development using Marlowe and/or Plutus.

• Experience with secure coding practices and blockchain security principles.
• Experience with integrating blockchain functionalities into user interfaces.
• Responsible for developing and testing the smart contract functionalities for DID verification, contract storage, and VC issuance.

More about Fairway.

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

Requested Funding: 123,600 ADA

Total Project Duration: 7 Months

This budget breakdown outlines the allocation of the requested grant of 123, 600 ADA to ensure efficient resource utilization throughout the 6-month project lifecycle.

Milestone 1 (23,500 ADA): This milestone focuses on research and design, requiring resources for:

• UI/UX designer: 7000 ADA
• Blockchain developer: 10000 ADA
• Project Lead: 5500 ADA
• Software Tools and Utilities: 1000 ADA

Milestone 2 (68,300 ADA): This milestone involves prototype integration and testing, requiring:

• Blockchain Developer: 34000 ADA
• Fullstack developer: 22800 ADA
• Project Lead: 11500 ADA

Milestone 3 (22,200 ADA): This milestone focuses on reporting and dissemination, requiring:

• Blockchain Developer: 9000 ADA
• Fullstack developer: 8700 ADA
• Project Lead: 4500 AD

Final Milestone (9,600 ADA): This final allocation covers any unforeseen expenses and miscellaneous costs throughout the project.

• Completion

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

1. Unlocking Real-World Use Cases
2. Enhancing Trust and Transparency
3. Attracting New Users and Developers
4. Demonstrating Technical Innovation
5. Cost-Effective Development