Cardano Impact Hub (CIH ) – Decentralized Social Impact Funding & Transparency on Cardano.

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Justin Chuka

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

Entity (Not Incorporated)

[GENERAL] Requested funds in ada

100000

[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)

This is a decentralized platform for funding and tracking social impact projects using Cardano’s blockchain, ensures transparency and accountability, as well as tokenized rewards for participation

[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.”

This decentralized platform for funding and tracking social impact projects utilizes Plutus, Atala PRISM, and AWS to ensure transparency, accountability, and scalability.

• Plutus: Smart contracts automate fund disbursement based on milestones, ensuring that funds are allocated only to verified and legitimate projects.
• Atala PRISM: Provides decentralized identity verification for project creators and participants, ensuring legitimacy and preventing fraud.
• AWS (Amazon Web Services): Offers scalable cloud infrastructure to host backend systems, manage large volumes of project data, and ensure high availability and performance across the platform.

These core technologies enable secure, transparent, and scalable operations, facilitating the management and funding of social impact projects through Cardano's blockchain.

[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 Cardano Impact Hub (CIH) project is committed to an open-source model, which has several key implications for its development, transparency, and community engagement. Here’s how the open-source status will be structured:

1. Open Source Code Repository

• Public Repository: All code developed for the Cardano Impact Hub will be hosted on a public repository (e.g., GitHub). This allows anyone to view, contribute to, and utilize the code, fostering collaboration and transparency.
• Version Control: Utilizing tools like Git will ensure that all changes are tracked, enabling contributors to review the project’s evolution and participate in code reviews.

2. Collaborative Development

• Community Contributions: The open-source nature of the project invites developers from the Cardano community and beyond to contribute. This could include enhancements, bug fixes, or new feature implementations, promoting a collaborative development environment.
• Feedback Mechanisms: The project will include structured ways for community members to provide feedback on code and design choices. This will ensure that the platform evolves in line with user needs and industry best practices.

3. Documentation and Resources

• Comprehensive Documentation: Detailed documentation will accompany the code, covering installation, configuration, usage, and contribution guidelines. This will make it easier for new developers to get involved and understand the project.
• Educational Materials: The project will provide tutorials, guides, and workshops to help users understand how to use and contribute to the platform, promoting educational outreach within the community.

4. Licensing

• Open Source Licensing: CIH will adopt an appropriate open-source license (e.g., MIT, Apache 2.0) that allows for broad usage, modification, and distribution of the code while ensuring that contributors receive credit for their work. This aligns with the principles of the Cardano ecosystem and blockchain technology.

5. Community Governance

• Decentralized Decision-Making: The governance of the CIH project can be structured to allow token holders to vote on major decisions related to the platform’s development, feature prioritization, and future directions. This empowers the community and aligns with the decentralized ethos of the Cardano blockchain.

6. Integration with Other Projects

• Interoperability: Open-source outputs can be integrated with other projects within the Cardano ecosystem. This encourages innovation and allows for the development of complementary tools and services, enhancing the overall utility of the Cardano blockchain.

7. Transparency and Accountability

• Public Audits: By being open-source, the codebase can undergo independent audits by community members or third parties. This adds an additional layer of security and trust, ensuring that the project adheres to best practices in coding and data security.

The open-source status of the Cardano Impact Hub promotes collaboration, transparency, and community engagement. By making its code publicly accessible and encouraging contributions, the project aims to foster a vibrant ecosystem that not only benefits social impact initiatives but also enhances the overall Cardano blockchain community. This open approach ensures that the CIH remains adaptable, secure, and aligned with the needs of its users.

[METADATA] Horizons

Governance

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Cardano Impact Hub (CIH) is a groundbreaking, blockchain-based platform aimed at revolutionizing social impact funding and transparency. Built on the Cardano blockchain, CIH utilizes decentralized technologies to ensure security, traceability, and accountability in funding social projects. The platform caters to various stakeholders, including donors, project creators, and social organizations, providing a seamless and secure solution for supporting meaningful initiatives.

CIH’s Core Features

CIH’s core features include micro-donations, milestone-based fund disbursement, decentralized identity verification, tokenized contributions, a global social impact dashboard, and decentralized crowdfunding. By leveraging blockchain technology, CIH addresses challenges such as mismanagement of donations, lack of transparency in fund usage, and limited donor engagement.

Proposed Solution

The proposed solution for Cardano Impact Hub tackles key challenges in social impact funding, such as donor distrust, inefficient fund allocation, and lack of engagement. CIH offers a decentralized approach that ensures contributions are effectively managed and transparently tracked.

Key Features

Micro-Donations in ADA or CNTs

• Problem: Many potential donors are deterred by high minimum donation amounts or unclear fund usage.
• Solution: CIH allows users to make micro-donations in ADA or CNTs, with all transactions fully traceable on the Cardano blockchain. This lowers the barrier to entry and fosters a culture of giving.

Milestone-Based Fund Disbursement with Plutus Smart Contracts

• Problem: Traditional funding models often lead to delays and mismanagement of funds.
• Solution: CIH employs Plutus smart contracts to automatically disburse funds when specific project milestones are achieved, ensuring that contributions are utilized effectively and on schedule.

Decentralized Identity Verification with Atala PRISM

• Problem: Trust is compromised when organizations cannot be verified, leading to donor hesitancy.
• Solution: CIH uses Atala PRISM to verify the identities of project creators, ensuring that only legitimate and verified organizations can receive funding. This builds confidence among donors.

Tokenized Contributions via Impact Tokens

• Problem: Donors often feel disconnected from the projects they support.
• Solution: Contributions are tokenized into Impact Tokens, providing donors with recognition and a means of engagement. These tokens can be used for voting on project decisions through decentralized governance via Project Catalyst.

Global Social Impact Dashboard

• Problem: Donors lack visibility into the effectiveness and impact of their contributions.
• Solution: CIH provides a comprehensive dashboard for users to track the progress and real-world impact of their donations, featuring clear metrics such as donation amounts, milestones achieved, and lives impacted.

Decentralized Crowdfunding for Enhanced Impact

• Problem: Limited funding for social projects often restricts their potential.
• Solution: CIH facilitates decentralized crowdfunding where larger entities can match community donations, significantly amplifying the impact of contributions and encouraging collective action.

Technology Stack

• Blockchain: Cardano for secure, transparent data storage and transaction processing.
• Smart Contracts: Plutus for automating fund allocations and project milestone verification.
• Decentralized Identity: Atala PRISM for secure identity verification of project creators.
• Frontend: A user-friendly web interface for donors and project creators.
• Backend: A secure backend integrated with Cardano nodes for managing donations and tracking projects.

Cardano Impact Hub harnesses the power of blockchain to create a transparent, secure, and efficient social impact funding platform. By enabling micro-donations, automating fund disbursement, verifying identities, and providing a clear impact tracking system, CIH addresses the critical challenges of trust and transparency in social funding. The platform not only fosters engagement among donors but also ensures that every contribution is used effectively to create a lasting social impact.

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

The Cardano Impact Hub (CIH) is poised to create significant positive impact not just within the realm of social impact funding but also on the wider Cardano community. Here are several key ways in which CIH will contribute positively:

1. Enhanced Community Trust and Engagement

• Transparency: By utilizing the Cardano blockchain for all transactions, CIH will demonstrate the benefits of transparency and accountability in social funding. This will enhance trust within the Cardano community and attract more users who value these principles.
• Active Participation: The tokenized contribution model allows community members to actively participate in funding decisions, fostering a sense of ownership and engagement in the platform's success.

2. Promotion of Decentralized Governance

• DAO Mechanisms: CIH’s incorporation of decentralized governance through Project Catalyst will serve as a model for other Cardano projects, showcasing how community-driven decision-making can enhance project outcomes. This can inspire other projects to adopt similar governance structures, promoting democratic participation within the ecosystem.

3. Showcasing Blockchain Use Cases

• Practical Applications: CIH will serve as a compelling case study for the use of blockchain in social impact funding, showcasing the technology's capabilities beyond cryptocurrencies. By effectively demonstrating how blockchain can solve real-world problems, CIH can attract attention from developers and organizations interested in building on Cardano.

4. Attracting New Users and Developers

• Ecosystem Growth: As CIH becomes a successful model for funding social projects, it will draw attention to the Cardano ecosystem, attracting new users, developers, and projects. This can lead to a broader and more diverse community, fostering innovation and collaboration within Cardano.

5. Increased Social Responsibility Awareness

• Community Engagement: CIH will encourage the Cardano community to engage with social causes, promoting awareness and participation in charitable projects. This could lead to more community-led initiatives and partnerships focused on addressing global challenges, thus enhancing Cardano's reputation as a socially responsible platform.

6. Economic Benefits through Micro-Donations

• Micro-Donation Model: By enabling micro-donations, CIH will create opportunities for a larger pool of contributors to participate in social impact projects. This democratizes funding, allowing even small donors to make a meaningful difference and generating a more vibrant economic environment within the Cardano ecosystem.

7. Collaboration with Local Organizations

• Partnerships: CIH’s focus on local social projects will foster collaborations between the Cardano community and local organizations. These partnerships can lead to increased local engagement and investment, further solidifying Cardano's presence and impact in various regions.

8. Continuous Improvement through Feedback

• Iterative Development: CIH’s commitment to prototype testing and user feedback collection will not only improve its platform but can also provide valuable insights and best practices for other projects within the Cardano ecosystem. This culture of continuous improvement can elevate the overall quality of projects built on Cardano.

By addressing the critical issues of trust, transparency, and engagement in social impact funding, Cardano Impact Hub will not only enhance the user experience for donors and project creators but also positively influence the entire Cardano community. This initiative can serve as a catalyst for broader adoption, increased collaboration, and innovation within the ecosystem, ultimately contributing to Cardano's mission of empowering individuals and communities worldwide.

[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?

Justin Chuka – Project Lead

Justin is an experienced product designer specializing in UX/UI Artificial Intelligence, system Thinking and product strategy, particularly in blockchain-based solutions. His background in designing user-friendly platforms ensures that Atala HealthChain will be intuitive, functional, and optimized for the diverse needs of patients, healthcare providers, and donors. With a deep understanding of both design and the blockchain ecosystem, Justin will lead the project’s execution with a clear focus on user experience and strategic development.

Osita Ogbonna – Blockchain Developer

Osita is a seasoned blockchain developer with specific expertise in Plutus smart contracts and Atala PRISM integration. His in-depth knowledge of Cardano's ecosystem ensures that Atala HealthChain will be built on a secure, scalable, and transparent infrastructure, capable of handling sensitive medical data and healthcare transactions. His technical leadership will be critical to the successful implementation of the blockchain elements, including decentralized identity management and transparent fund allocation.

Remostart Partnership

Through our partnership with Remostart, we have access to a vast community of blockchain developers and experts. This partnership provides the necessary resources to tackle the most complex technical challenges quickly and effectively, ensuring that Atala HealthChain will have the right team in place at every stage of development.

Project Feasibility Validation and Financial Accountability

To ensure that Atala HealthChain is feasible and executed with high levels of trust, we will implement the following strategies:

Quantitative Validation:

• Measure the number of successfully integrated features and upgrades through GitHub.
• Track user adoption metrics, including the number of verified patients and healthcare providers utilizing the platform.

User Experience Validation:

• Conduct surveys to assess satisfaction levels from patients, healthcare providers, and donors, ensuring the platform meets their needs.
• Gauge engagement and enthusiasm through direct feedback from early adopters and system users.

Financial Accountability:

• Budget Planning: We will carefully plan and allocate our budget, ensuring that key areas such as platform development, user acquisition, and operational costs are adequately covered.
• Transparent Expense Tracking: Detailed and transparent records of all expenses will be maintained, providing clear visibility into how funds are used and ensuring that all resources are directed efficiently toward project goals.
• Periodic Reporting: We will generate regular financial and operational reports to evaluate performance, enabling data-driven adjustments and continuous financial accountability.

Commitment to Transparency and Communication: Transparency is a core value in our project management approach. Regular progress updates will be shared with all stakeholders, ensuring open communication. This transparency will foster trust and collaboration, keeping everyone informed about milestones, challenges, and next steps, thereby aligning all parties with the project’s objectives.

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

Milestone 1: Design Platform UI/UX and Define Technical Requirements (2 months)

Objective: Create a user-friendly interface and define the technical architecture for Cardano ImpactHub.

Key Tasks:

• Conduct user research to understand the needs of social impact project creators, funders, and developers.
• Design wireframes and prototypes for key user flows (e.g., project creation, funding requests, tracking milestones).
• Develop a cohesive UI/UX design that prioritizes clarity, ease of navigation, and a smooth user experience.
• Collaborate with the development team to outline technical requirements for smart contracts, Atala PRISM integration, and blockchain functionality.
• Define project milestones and develop a roadmap for technical implementation.

Deliverables: Completed platform design with UI/UX prototypes and detailed technical specifications for the backend.

Milestone 2: Develop Smart Contracts for Milestone-Based Fund Distribution (4 months)

Objective: Build and deploy smart contracts to manage transparent, milestone-based fund disbursement.

Key Tasks:

• Design and develop Plutus smart contracts that allow funders to release payments based on successful completion of predefined project milestones.
• Implement multi-signature wallets to ensure funds are securely held and distributed only when milestones are approved by both parties.
• Conduct thorough testing of smart contracts to ensure they are secure, auditable, and efficient.
• Integrate an automated alert system that notifies stakeholders when milestones are reached and funds are available for disbursement.
• Perform security audits and smart contract testing in various scenarios to prevent fraud or contract failure.

Deliverables: Fully developed, tested, and secure milestone-based smart contracts integrated into the platform.

Milestone 3: Integrate Atala PRISM for Identity Verification (6 months)

Objective: Implement Atala PRISM to ensure that only verified users can create and manage projects or fund them.

Key Tasks:

• Integrate Atala PRISM for decentralized identity verification, allowing users (project creators, funders, and developers) to verify their credentials securely.
• Ensure compliance with relevant privacy and data protection laws (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA) while maintaining user control over their personal information.
• Build a seamless onboarding process for users, allowing them to verify their identity with minimal friction.
• Test the identity verification process for scalability and efficiency, ensuring quick verification without compromising security.
• Create a user dashboard to display verification status and provide easy access to identity management features.

Deliverables: A fully functional identity verification system integrated with Atala PRISM for secure user authentication.

Milestone 4: Launch Beta Version with Pilot Projects (8 months)

Objective: Launch a beta version of the platform, allowing a limited number of projects to use Cardano ImpactHub for real-world testing.

Key Tasks:

• Onboard a select group of pilot projects, ensuring they are representative of the target user base (e.g., social impact initiatives, NGOs).
• Provide training and resources for pilot users to effectively use the platform, create milestones, and interact with funders.
• Monitor the performance of the smart contract system, user interactions, and Atala PRISM verification during real-world usage.
• Collect feedback from users on the platform’s usability, features, and performance to identify areas for improvement.
• Address any technical or UX issues that arise during the pilot phase and make necessary adjustments.

Deliverables: A beta version of the platform with live pilot projects, generating feedback for continued development and optimization.

Final Milestone: Full Public Launch of Cardano ImpactHub (10 months)

• Objective: Officially launch Cardano ImpactHub to the public, with all core functionalities available for use.

• Key Tasks:
• Complete any final platform optimizations based on feedback from the beta phase, including UX enhancements and technical adjustments.
• Scale the platform’s infrastructure to handle increased traffic and a larger number of projects and users.
• Execute a marketing strategy to promote the platform to social impact organizations, developers, and funders globally.
• Provide continuous support through a help center, tutorials, and community engagement to help onboard new users.
• Monitor post-launch metrics (e.g., user growth, project success, transaction volume) and iterate on the platform for long-term success.

• Deliverables: Full public launch of Cardano ImpactHub, with all features live and available for a broad audience of social impact creators and funders.

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

Justin Chuka – Project Lead / UX/UI Designer

Experience:

• Extensive background in product design, UX/UI, and product strategy.
• Proven track record in leading blockchain projects, focusing on innovative solutions for complex challenges.

Contact:

• justinchuka.info@gmail.com
• linkedin.com/in/justinchuka
• GitHub: github.com/mavericx

Osita Ogbonna – Blockchain Developer

Experience:

• Expertise in Plutus and Atala PRISM integration.
• Two years of hands-on experience developing and deploying blockchain solutions, particularly within the Cardano ecosystem.

Contact:

• osita.ogbonna.21@gmail.com
• linkedin.com/in/osita-ogbonna
• ogbonnaosita.github.io/portfolio

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

Cardano Impact Hub (CIH) Budget Breakdown

Milestone 1: Design Platform UI/UX and Define Technical Requirements (2 months) – 25,000 ADA

Objective: Create an intuitive and engaging user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) for the Cardano Impact Hub platform.

Activities:

• Conduct user research to understand the needs and preferences of potential users, including donors, project creators, and stakeholders.
• Design wireframes and prototypes for the platform, focusing on usability and accessibility.
• Define the technical requirements necessary for implementing the UI/UX designs, including software architecture and system integrations.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure alignment on the platform's objectives and functionalities.

Deliverables: A detailed design document containing the UI/UX prototypes and technical specifications, ready for development.

Milestone 2: Develop Smart Contracts for Milestone-Based Fund Distribution (4 months) – 30,000 ADA

Objective: Build and deploy smart contracts to automate the fund distribution process based on predefined project milestones.

Activities:

• Design and develop Plutus smart contracts to facilitate milestone-based funding for social impact projects.
• Integrate conditions for fund release that align with project milestones to ensure accountability and transparency.
• Conduct thorough testing of smart contracts to ensure they function as intended, minimizing risks of errors and vulnerabilities.
• Document the smart contracts, outlining their functionalities and integration processes for future reference.

Deliverables: Secure and tested smart contracts that automate the fund distribution process, complete with documentation.

Milestone 3: Integrate Atala PRISM for Identity Verification (6 months) – 25,000 ADA

Objective: Implement Atala PRISM to ensure secure identity verification for project creators and stakeholders.

Activities:

• Develop integration plans for Atala PRISM into the CIH platform to enable decentralized identity management.
• Create user interfaces for the identity verification process, ensuring a seamless experience for users.
• Collaborate with identity experts to ensure compliance with relevant regulations and best practices.
• Conduct testing of the identity verification process, gathering user feedback to refine the system.

Deliverables: A fully integrated Atala PRISM solution for secure identity verification, with user-friendly interfaces and thorough testing results.

Milestone 4: Launch Beta Version with Pilot Projects (8 months) – 15,000 ADA

Objective: Release a beta version of the Cardano Impact Hub to collect user feedback and test the platform with real pilot projects.

Activities:

• Select and onboard pilot projects that align with the mission of the Cardano Impact Hub.
• Launch the beta platform, providing users with access to the features, including fund distribution and identity verification.
• Monitor user interactions, gather feedback on functionality, usability, and overall experience during the pilot phase.
• Analyze pilot project outcomes to evaluate the effectiveness of the platform in achieving social impact goals.

Deliverables: A report summarizing pilot project results, user feedback, and recommendations for improvements before the full launch.

Final Milestone: Full Public Launch of Cardano Impact Hub (10 months) – 5,000 ADA

Objective: Officially launch the Cardano Impact Hub to the public, making the platform available for all users.

Activities:

• Develop a comprehensive marketing strategy to promote the Cardano Impact Hub to potential users, including social media campaigns, partnerships, and community outreach.
• Prepare the platform for scaling by optimizing performance based on beta testing feedback.
• Establish ongoing support and maintenance plans to ensure a positive user experience after launch.
• Host launch events to engage the community and encourage user participation on the platform.

Deliverables: A fully operational Cardano Impact Hub, complete with marketing materials, user support systems, and a roadmap for future enhancements.

The Cardano Impact Hub (CIH) aims to facilitate decentralized social impact funding while ensuring transparency and trust through blockchain technology. Each milestone is strategically allocated resources to ensure successful implementation, user engagement, and real-world impact. This structured approach will create a robust platform that empowers stakeholders to make a difference in their communities, with a clear focus on transparency and accountability in fund distribution.

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

The Cardano Impact Hub (CIH) project represents value for money for the Cardano ecosystem in several key ways:

1. Enhanced Transparency: By utilizing Cardano’s blockchain for decentralized social impact funding, CIH ensures that all transactions are traceable, fostering trust among donors and project creators. This transparency attracts more participants to the ecosystem.
2. Decentralized Identity Verification: Integrating Atala PRISM for identity verification reduces fraud and builds credibility for projects seeking funding. This strengthens the overall integrity of the Cardano ecosystem.
3. Efficient Fund Allocation: The implementation of milestone-based smart contracts ensures that funds are released only when specific project milestones are met, optimizing resource allocation and minimizing waste.
4. Community Engagement: CIH allows users to participate in funding decisions through tokenized contributions, enhancing community involvement and driving user adoption of Cardano technologies.
5. Positive Social Impact: By focusing on social projects, CIH helps address real-world issues, promoting the use of blockchain for societal benefit. This aligns with Cardano's mission of creating a more equitable and sustainable future.
6. Long-Term Sustainability: The project’s structure encourages repeat donations and continuous engagement, ensuring ongoing support for the Cardano ecosystem and its community-driven initiatives.

Overall, the investment in the CIH project offers a strategic return by promoting transparency, community engagement, and social impact, reinforcing Cardano's position as a leader in blockchain innovation for good.