Empowering the Ethiopian Blockchain Ecosystem through Cardano Adoption

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Yafet Tibebu

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

Entity (Not Incorporated)

[GENERAL] Co-proposers and additional applicants

nathan mesayneh (Co-developer, project management)

jonathan zerihun(Marketing and community outreach)

[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)

Establish a Cardano blockchain hub in Ethiopia, offering blockchain education, development resources, and partnerships with local organizations to drive ADA adoption and DApp development.

[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.”

Yes, partnerships with local educational institutions, businesses, and government bodies are essential to deliver educational programs and establish real-world Cardano use cases in Ethiopia.

[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

Yes, the project’s outputs will be fully open source. We will use the Apache 2.0 License to allow others to modify and distribute our educational materials, DApp templates, and development tools freely. All repositories will be available on GitHub to foster community engagement and contributions.

[METADATA] Horizons

Education

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Our project aims to build a Cardano Blockchain Hub in Ethiopia to provide comprehensive blockchain education and resources. The hub will focus on three key objectives:

1.Education and Training: Offer courses and workshops on Cardano blockchain technology, smart contract development (using Plutus and Marlowe), and DApp creation. These programs will be tailored to different groups, including university students, developers, and entrepreneurs, to build a skilled workforce capable of leveraging the Cardano ecosystem.

2.Partnerships and Collaboration: Collaborate with local universities, tech hubs, businesses, and government bodies to promote blockchain adoption and real-world use cases for ADA. These partnerships will help create projects like digital identity solutions, supply chain transparency, and microfinance platforms using Cardano technology.

3.Support for Developers and Entrepreneurs: Establish an incubation program within the hub, providing developers and entrepreneurs with resources such as mentorship, funding guidance, development tools, and access to Cardano's developer community. This support will help them build and deploy DApps that address local challenges in agriculture, finance, and public services.

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

By establishing a Cardano hub in Ethiopia, our project will:

• Increase Blockchain Education: Educate over 300 Ethiopian students and developers on Cardano blockchain technology within the first six months, creating a skilled talent pool ready to contribute to the Cardano ecosystem.
• Foster Local DApp Development: Incubate and support the development of at least five Cardano-based projects that address local needs, ensuring ADA is utilized in real-world solutions.
• Boost ADA Adoption: Facilitate partnerships with local businesses and government bodies to integrate Cardano solutions, resulting in increased ADA usage for digital identity systems, payment gateways, and microfinance platforms.
• Empower Communities: Provide tools and knowledge to individuals and organizations in Ethiopia, enabling them to create economic opportunities and innovation through blockchain technology.

[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 team has the necessary experience and skills to deliver this project:

• Project Lead: Experienced in blockchain development and has led educational initiatives in emerging markets.
• Technical Lead: Proficient in Cardano’s development stack (Plutus, Marlowe) and has successfully developed DApps deployed on testnets and mainnets.
• Local Collaborators: Partnerships with Ethiopian universities and tech hubs to ensure the program is accessible and meets local needs.

To validate feasibility, we have conducted preliminary discussions with local institutions interested in partnering, and our team has experience in managing blockchain projects in emerging markets. The use of open-source tools and resources will also enhance accessibility and community collaboration, ensuring the project scales effectively.

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

 Establishment of the Cardano Hub (Month 1-2)

Objective: Set up the physical space for the Cardano Hub in Addis Ababa and begin onboarding the initial team and local partners.

• Deliverables:
• Secure location for the hub.
• Hire local staff and onboard volunteers.
• Establish partnerships with local universities and tech hubs.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• Hub location fully operational and staff hired.
• MOUs signed with at least two local institutions.

Evidence of Completion:

• Photos of the hub space set up and operational, including signage and workspaces.
• Signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with at least two local institutions, confirming partnerships.
• Staff and Volunteer Contracts showing the onboarding of local personnel.

 Launch of Educational Programs (Month 3-4)

Objective: Roll out Cardano-focused educational programs to train Ethiopian developers and students.

• Deliverables:
• Curriculum designed for beginner and advanced courses on blockchain, smart contracts, and DApp development.
• Launch of the first set of workshops and training sessions.
• Digital learning platform established for remote access.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• At least 100 participants enrolled and engaged in the first courses.
• Positive feedback from participants, and course materials uploaded to the GitHub repository.

Evidence of Completion:

• Course Curriculum and Syllabus Documents uploaded online and shared with participants.
• Enrollment Records showing at least 100 participants enrolled in the courses.
• Screenshots and Reports from the digital learning platform demonstrating active usage and participation.
• Feedback Surveys from participants, with at least 70% positive responses, indicating course effectiveness.

Developer and Entrepreneur Incubation Program (Month 5)

Objective: Start an incubation program to support the development of locally relevant Cardano-based projects.

• Deliverables:
• Select five promising projects/teams to incubate.
• Provide mentorship, resources, and technical support for the development of these projects.
• Organize workshops on funding, project management, and Cardano integration.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• Five teams or individuals onboarded to the program.
• All projects make progress toward an MVP stage.

Evidence of Completion:

• Selection Documentation for the five projects/teams accepted into the incubation program.
• Progress Reports from each incubated project, detailing their advancements towards building a minimum viable product (MVP).
• Event Photos and Attendance Sheets from workshops held for the incubated projects.

Deployment and Community Engagement (Month 6)

Objective: Deploy at least two DApps developed in the incubation program and promote them within the local community.

• Deliverables:
• Successful deployment of two DApps addressing local challenges.
• Community events and hackathons held to showcase projects and promote ADA adoption.
• Partnerships with local businesses to pilot Cardano-based solutions.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• At least two DApps successfully deployed and used by local organizations or communities.
• Positive reception and feedback from community members and partners.

Evidence of Completion:

• Deployment Logs and Documentation confirming the successful launch of two DApps, including links to live DApps on the Cardano network.
• Partnership Agreements with local businesses piloting Cardano-based solutions.
• Event Reports, Photos, and Attendance Records from community events and hackathons, showing engagement and promoting ADA adoption.
• Feedback and Usage Data collected from the DApps deployed, indicating community engagement and real-world application.

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

yafet tibebu : lead developer (Telegram:https://t.me/hate41)

nathan mesayneh: project manager(Telegram:https://t.me/nate_ol)

jonathan zerihun: marketing lead (Telegram:https://t.me/F1rac)

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

The total requested amount is 50,000 ADA, broken down as follows;

1.Hub Setup and Staff Costs (15,000 ADA):

• Rent, utilities, and initial setup for the hub in Addis Ababa.
• Salaries for local staff and volunteers for six months.

2.Educational Programs and Resources (10,000 ADA):

• Development of curriculum and learning materials.
• Costs associated with digital learning platforms and hosting workshops.

3.Incubation Program (10,000 ADA):

• Mentorship and support for five selected projects.
• Development tools, resources, and hosting costs for incubated projects.

4.Marketing and Community Events (8,000 ADA):

• Marketing campaigns, hackathons, and community events to promote Cardano and engage local developers.
• Outreach materials and costs for social media promotion.

5.Contingency Fund (7,000 ADA):

• Reserve funds to cover unforeseen expenses, such as additional staff or increased infrastructure needs.

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

This project offers substantial value for the Cardano ecosystem. By investing in education and incubation, we are building a sustainable, local developer community in Ethiopia. This will lead to long-term ADA adoption and the development of real-world use cases that increase the relevance and utility of Cardano in the region. The structured support for entrepreneurs and partnerships with local organizations also create a fertile ground for future projects that will benefit the broader Cardano network.