EmpowerVoters-Bridging the Gap in Cardano Decentralized Governance

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Christopher Pokoo-Aikins

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

Entity (Not Incorporated)

[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)

Engage and inform Cardano dReps and ADA holders on decentralized governance.

[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.”

The project depends on partnerships with Cardano ecosystem groups and existing educational platforms (if any) for outreach, ensuring wider access to decentralized governance education.

[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

All materials and resources created for mentorship, governance workshops, and community engagement will be open-source, allowing the community to reuse and adapt them for their purposes.

[METADATA] Horizons

Education

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

dRep Chain team will focus on global engagement, mentorship programs, and local regional community outreach. The project will establish global dRep hubs (virtual) to encourage localized and global participation in governance activities. A mentorship program will pair experienced dReps with newcomers, fostering learning and active engagement in decentralized governance processes, such as CIP-1694 and voting mechanisms.

Incentives, such as rewards for participation, will be introduced to maintain continuous engagement. Collaboration with local Cardano groups will be key to driving participation and awareness.

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

EmpowerVoters by dRep Chain team will increase participation in Cardano’s decentralized governance by educating ADA holders and dReps, leading to more informed voting decisions. The project will foster a more engaged, knowledgeable community that actively contributes to Cardano’s future governance decisions.

[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?

The dRep Chain team has experience organizing governance webinars and leading decentralized initiatives in the Cardano ecosystem. The feasibility of this project will be validated through user feedback, engagement metrics, and mentorship participation. 

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

Launch global dRep hub and begin the mentorship program (Months 1-2)

• Over the first two months, the team will establish a global dRep hub to foster engagement and support.
• Simultaneously, a mentorship program will be launched to provide guidance and training to community members interested in participating in governance activities.

Organize community outreach and engagement events (Months 3-4)

• In this phase, the team will actively engage with the community through various outreach and engagement events.
• These events will aim to raise awareness about decentralized governance, educate community members on the dRep Chain platform, and encourage their participation in governance processes.

Final Milestone: Impact assessment and adjustments (Month 5-6)

• At the conclusion of the project, the team will conduct a comprehensive impact assessment to evaluate the success of the initiative.
• This assessment will involve analyzing key performance indicators such as the number of active users, the frequency of governance-related activities, and overall community involvement.
• Based on the findings, the team will make necessary adjustments to further improve the dRep Chain governance model and ensure its long-term sustainability.

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

Christopher Pokoo-Aikins: Christopher is a highly experienced accountant and finance professional with over 12 years of experience in the field. hold’s a Master's degree in Computer Application from Amity University (India), an MSc degree in Accounting and Finance from KNUST (Ghana), and a BSc in Business Administration from KNUST (Ghana).

He is passionate about blockchain technology and believe that it has the potential to solve many problems. He has been a community advisor and voter in the Project Catalyst funding cycle since Fund 5, and was also a member of the Catalyst Challenge Team for the "Scale-UP Cardano's Community Hubs" challenge in Fund 8.

He is a strong leader with a proven track record of success and also a highly ethical individual who is committed to implementing change in a positive way.

Role: Team Lead

Twitter: chrisaiks

Email: chrisaiks@gmail.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-pokoo-aikins/

Richmond Oppong: Richmond is a graphic designer with over 10 years of experience in a variety of design disciplines, including logo design, print and poster design, business card design, 3D signage, and advertising and marketing. He holds a Higher National Diploma in Graphic Design from Takoradi Polytechnic in Ghana. He is also a member of the Wada community and the Design and Marketing Lead.

Richmond is a blockchain enthusiast and is actively involved in the Cardano project catalyst community. He is the Co-host at the Catalyst Africa School and the Design & Marketing Lead for the Catalyst Africa Town Hall. He was a Community Advisor in Catalyst funds 5 to 9, and a Veteran Community Advisor in funds 8 and 9. He was also a member of the Catalyst Challenge Team for the "Scale-UP Cardano's Community Hubs" challenge in fund 8. 

Role: Marketing and Communication

Twitter: @cardanoholious

Email: holious45@gmail.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richmond-oppong-054689b4/

Nana Safo: He holds BSc. in Information Technology from Ghana Communication Technology University. He is an enthusiastic and passionate young man who serves as University Ambassador for Wada, an organization that is focused on creating awareness and providing access and voice to the people of Africa and the Diaspora with regard to blockchain and web3.

He also serves as Ghana's Ambassador to Landano International, an international company that is aimed at building a decentralized application that would provide a trustworthy platform for managing land titles using the Cardano blockchain.

As co-founder and CEO of Cardano Africa Live, he has overseen and contributed to the setup of a digital hub in Johannesburg, South Africa. The hub serves the good people of South Africa who want to explore blockchain technology and Web3 with 24/7 internet, electricity, and space.

He has been contributing to the growth of Cardano Project Catalyst since Fund 3. He assessed numerous projects against the laid-down criteria to ensure that at least the deserving projects received funding to implement them. He also managed projects like “Boosting Cardano in South Africa 🇿🇦”, “Cardano Recycling DApp”, and “Market-to-Customers Intermediary App” and contributed immensely to the implementation of projects like “Planting Roots in Africa”, “Landano.io”, “Cardano Recycling DApp”, “Boosting Cardano in South Africa”, “Nation Building DApps”, etc. As a veteran and public speaker, he has used his experience, story, and podium to inspire others who like to explore opportunities at events like Opportunity Summit 23, Cardano Summit 22, Youth Onboarding Outreach 1, Wada Catalyst Conference 22, Cardano Africa Live 22, etc.

Role: Community Outreach & Mentorship Coordinator

Email: safonanakwadwo2a1@gmail.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nanasafo/

Angela Okai-Nartey: Angela is a Digital Marketer and the Executive Director of the Ladies Network for Economic Freedom. She has 3 years of experience in Think Tank Development, Non-Profit Management, and Digital Marketing.

She holds a BSC in Information Technology from Ghana Communication Technology University. She also holds a Think Tank Foundations Certificate from Atlas Network Academy and a Digital Marketing Certificate from Google Digital Workshop.

Angela is a blockchain enthusiast, She has been a Community Advisor since Fund 7 and a challenge team member for Scale-UP Cardano’s Community Hubs in Fund 8.

Role: Event Coordinator

Email: angelanartey00@gmail.com 

Twitter: @Akua_Nartey

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-okai-nartey-8b8aa81b2/

Nathaniel Dwamena: Natyhaniel is a respected free-market policy analyst in Ghana. He is a blockchain enthusiast and founded the African Institute for Defi and Blockchain (AIDBLOCK) and Community Lead for Ubuntu Origin Labs (UOLABS). His work promotes free enterprise, civil liberty, prosperity, digital inclusion, and financial freedom, and he has conducted significant blockchain research. He recently co-authored a policy paper titled, “Navigating Cryptocurrencies and CBDCs in the Landscape of Monetary Sovereignty and Economic Freedom”. He is a distinguished speaker and has played a pivotal role in nurturing blockchain entrepreneurs and educating Ghanaian youths as well as individuals in francophone communities in Ghana through the Working with Web3 initiative. He also educates individuals on liquid democracy and DRep awareness in Ghana.

Role: Governance Analyst

Email: natdwamena@yafoweb.org

Twitter: @Nat_Dwamena

Abigail Ayisi Duodu: Abigail is a proficient writer with a BA in Linguistics, skilled in strategizing content and community engagement. As a former team lead of a tech and waste management startup, she understands the entire content creation process, from ideation, design, documentation to product launch.

Role: Community Engagement Manager

Email: nefua24@gmail.com

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

Ø Global dRep Hubs and Events: 10,000 ADA

o  Virtual Hubs: 4,000 ADA

Subscription to premium online platforms (Zoom, StreamYard, etc.), enhanced technical support for webinars, governance simulations, and remote meetups.

The additional funds can cover more advanced online infrastructure and technical support to ensure high-quality virtual experiences.

o  Events and Workshops: 6,000 ADA

Increased frequency of events across multiple regions, offering more workshops and governance-related activities.

More substantial expansion of speaker fees, honorariums, and event materials, allowing for a broader reach and higher-quality events.

Ø Incentives and Rewards for Participation: 10,000 ADA

o  Mentorship Program Incentives: 5,000 ADA

Increased rewards for both mentors and mentees to further encourage engagement in governance education and participation.

o  Community Engagement Rewards: 5,000 ADA

Expanded reward structure with more tiers and special achievements, higher ADA rewards, NFTs, or governance-related merchandise.

Ø Marketing and Awareness Campaigns: 7,680 ADA

o  Online Advertising: 4,580 ADA

Increased investment in targeted ads and professional promotional videos to broaden the project's visibility among ADA holders and potential dReps.

o  Materials: 1,860 ADA

Materials and giveaways, promoting greater brand visibility and awareness.

o  Community Engagement Online: 1,240 ADA

More resources for social media management, online event promotion, and collaborations with influencers.

Ø Miscellaneous Costs: 5,000 ADA

o  Administrative Costs: 2,000 ADA

Covers legal, operational, and compliance fees, as well as office supplies and logistical support.

o  Contingency Fund: 3,000 ADA

A larger contingency fund to cover unforeseen expenses, providing flexibility in project execution.

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

The project provides long-term value by increasing voter engagement and governance participation, key to Cardano’s decentralized future. By educating dReps and ADA holders, EmpowerVoters ensures a well-informed community that can make effective governance decisions, benefiting the entire ecosystem.