CertifyCDNO: A Trustworthy Blockchain-based Certification System

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Kenneth Boateng

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

Individual

[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)

We will continue to develop CertifyCDNO; a blockchain-based certification system that ensures secure, transparent, and tamper-proof digital certificates, streamlining verification, into the MVP stage.

[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.”

IPFS is essential for CertifyCDNO because together with the Cardano blockchain, it provides a decentralized, scalable, and cost-effective storage solution for certificate data, ensuring security and integrity while minimizing on-chain storage costs.

[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

The project involves sensitive data, and a closed-source approach ensures that security measures and innovative features remain proprietary.

[METADATA] Horizons

Identity & Verification

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Problem Perception: Traditional certification systems are plagued by inefficiencies, including long processing times, manual verification, and a lack of transparency. These issues not only hinder students in showcasing their qualifications but also create trust deficits for employers and institutions. The challenge lies in ensuring the authenticity of digital certificates while minimizing administrative burdens.

Approach: CertifyCDNO leverages blockchain technology and the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) to create a secure and transparent certification platform. By hashing unique certificate details and storing them on-chain, we ensure data integrity while maintaining the privacy of sensitive information. Our approach aims to streamline the certification process, reduce fraud, and enhance user trust through transparency.

Project Engagement: The project will engage students, educational institutions, and employers. Students will benefit from an easy way to verify and showcase their qualifications. Institutions will find the certification process more efficient, freeing up resources for other educational initiatives. Employers will have a reliable method to validate candidates’ credentials, fostering trust in the hiring process.

Demonstrating Impact: We will measure our impact through user adoption rates, the number of certificates issued, and feedback from institutions and employers. A pilot program will be implemented with select educational institutions to refine our processes and demonstrate efficacy before a broader rollout.

Uniqueness and Importance to Cardano: What sets CertifyCDNO apart is its focus on decentralization and security, critical tenets of the Cardano ecosystem. By utilizing Cardano’s blockchain for certification, we enhance the credibility of digital credentials, supporting the broader goal of creating a more trustworthy and efficient digital economy. This project not only aligns with Cardano's values but also showcases its capabilities in addressing real-world challenges in certification and credential verification.

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

Value to the Cardano Community: CertifyCDNO will enhance the credibility and functionality of digital certifications within the Cardano ecosystem. By providing a secure and efficient certification process, our project will attract educational institutions and employers to utilize Cardano's blockchain, thereby increasing its adoption and showcasing its capabilities in solving real-world challenges. The successful implementation of CertifyCDNO will demonstrate the potential of Cardano as a platform for innovative applications, further strengthening its position in the blockchain space.

Measuring Impact: We will measure our impact through both quantitative and qualitative metrics, including:

• Quantitative Metrics:
• Number of certificates issued and verified through the platform.
• User engagement metrics, such as active users from institutions and students.
• Feedback from employers regarding the ease of validating credentials.
• Qualitative Metrics:
• User satisfaction surveys from students and institutions.
• Testimonials from employers regarding their experiences with our verification process.

Sharing Outputs and Opportunities: We intend to share our outputs and findings through:

• Workshops and Webinars: Organizing sessions for educational institutions and employers to demonstrate the platform’s capabilities and gather feedback.
• Research Publications: Documenting the impact and methodologies used in CertifyCDNO and publishing them in relevant forums and journals.
• Community Forums: Engaging with the Cardano community through forums, social media, and meetups to discuss our progress, share success stories, and collaborate on future enhancements.

[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?

Experience and Expertise: Having successfully developed the prototype for CertifyCDNO, I possess a strong foundation in blockchain technology, smart contract development, and data management. My background as a Data Engineer and Full stack developer has equipped me with the technical skills necessary to lead a team in transitioning the project to the MVP stage. This experience ensures that I understand both the technical challenges and the broader implications of building a secure certification system.

Feasibility Validation:

1. Pilot Testing: Collaborate with select educational institutions to pilot the certification system, gather real-world feedback, and refine the processes.
2. Stakeholder Engagement: Involve students, employers, and institutions early in the development process to ensure the solution meets their needs and expectations.
3. Continuous Iteration: Based on pilot testing and stakeholder feedback, we will iterate on the system to address any identified challenges.

Trust and Fund Management:

1. Budgeting and Planning: Create a detailed project budget outlining expected expenses and allocate funds based on project milestones.
2. Transparent Reporting: Provide regular updates on fund usage and project progress to stakeholders and funding partners. This includes financial reports and project status updates.

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

 Complete Feature Development for MVP

• Description: Develop and integrate all features outlined for the MVP, including the dashboard for institutions, user-friendly verification portal, multi-signature issuance, notification system, and role-based access control.
• Acceptance Criteria: All features are fully developed, tested, and documented. User feedback is gathered through internal testing sessions.

Conduct Pilot Testing with Selected Institutions

• Description: Launch a pilot program with selected educational institutions to test the certification issuance and verification processes in real-world scenarios.
• Acceptance Criteria: Successful issuance and verification of at least 100 certificates with positive feedback from participants regarding usability and efficiency.

Gather and Analyze Feedback for Refinements

• Description: Collect qualitative and quantitative feedback from pilot participants, including students, institutions, and employers, to identify areas for improvement.
• Acceptance Criteria: Compile a comprehensive report summarizing feedback and proposed refinements, with at least 80% of participants indicating satisfaction with the system.

Finalize Documentation and Marketing Materials

• Description: Prepare user manuals, technical documentation, and marketing materials to support the official launch of CertifyCDNO.
• Acceptance Criteria: All documentation is completed, reviewed, and approved by stakeholders. Marketing materials are designed and ready for distribution.

Launch CertifyCDNO as an MVP

• Description: Officially launch CertifyCDNO as a minimum viable product, making it accessible to a broader audience of educational institutions and employers.
• Acceptance Criteria: The platform is live, with some institutions onboarded and actively using the system for certification issuance and verification, along with a functioning support system for users.

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

Kenneth Boateng

An active member of the Cardano and Project Catalyst communities since Fund 10, with experience as a community reviewer and contributor to a funded project in Fund 11. A skilled Data Engineer and Full-Stack Developer, I hold a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. My interests lie in leveraging emerging technologies like blockchain and artificial intelligence to solve longstanding challenges, pushing the boundaries of innovation to create impactful solutions.

Role

[Team lead, blockchain and backend developer]

Oversee project development. Develop and integrate blockchain architecture, smart contracts, and security protocols.

Website

Telegram - KeBlacc

Discord - keblacc

To be recruited

Frontend Developer

• Skills: Experience in web development frameworks (e.g., React, Angular, or Vue.js), UI/UX design principles, and knowledge of integrating APIs.
• Responsibilities: Develop the user interface for the dashboard and verification portal, ensuring a seamless and intuitive user experience.

Backend Developer

• Skills: Proficiency in server-side programming languages, database management, and familiarity with cloud services.
• Responsibilities: Build and maintain the backend infrastructure, ensuring efficient data handling, storage, and communication between the frontend and blockchain.

Quality Assurance (QA) Tester

• Skills: Experience in software testing methodologies, familiarity with automated testing tools, and attention to detail.
• Responsibilities: Conduct thorough testing of the platform to identify and resolve any bugs or issues before the MVP launch, ensuring a high-quality product.

Further team expansion or recruitment will be carried out as needed to strengthen the project and ensure its success.

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

Development Team Salaries

• Blockchain Developer (3 months): Lead smart contract development and blockchain integration: ₳15,000
• Frontend Developer (3 months): UI development for the dashboard and verification portal: ₳12,000
• Backend Developer (3 months): Server-side development and database management: ₳10,000
• Quality Assurance Tester (3 months): Testing for platform quality assurance: ₳6,000
• Project Manager (3 months): Oversee project execution and team coordination: ₳9,000

Third-Party Services

• Smart Contract Auditing: Professional code auditing service to ensure security: ₳6,000
• IPFS Storage Costs: Estimated costs for IPFS storage for certificates (annual): ₳1,000
• Legal Services: Contract drafting and compliance review (estimated): ₳2,000
• Accounting Services: Professional accounting services for budget management (3 months): ₳1,500

Software and Tools

• Development Tools License: Licenses for any necessary software tools: ₳1,000
• Project Management Software: Subscription for project management tools (3 months): ₳300
• Communication Tools: Tools for team collaboration : ₳200

Marketing and Community Engagement

• Marketing Materials: Design and printing of promotional materials: ₳1,000
• Community Outreach: Engagement initiatives (e.g., events, webinars): ₳1,500

Documentation and Reporting

• Documentation Preparation: User manuals and technical documentation: ₳1,000
• Reporting to Community: Regular project updates and impact reporting: ₳600

Total Project Cost

The total project cost amounts to ₳68100

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

The proposed budget for the CertifyCDNO project represents a strategic investment in building a trustworthy digital certification system on the Cardano blockchain, aligning with the ecosystem's goals of decentralization, transparency, and security. Here’s how the project costs demonstrate value for money:

1. Efficient Resource Allocation: The salaries allocated for the development team are competitive yet reasonable, reflecting the average wage rates for tech professionals. This ensures that we attract skilled individuals who can deliver high-quality work within the established timeframe. By employing a lean team, we maximize productivity and reduce overhead costs, enhancing cost efficiency.
2. Third-Party Services for Quality Assurance: The budget includes expenses for smart contract auditing and legal services. Investing in thorough audits minimizes risks associated with vulnerabilities and ensures the integrity of the certification process, ultimately protecting users and the Cardano brand.
3. Market Competitiveness: The proposed costs for marketing and community engagement are designed to build awareness and adoption of the CertifyCDNO system within the Cardano community. Effective outreach can drive user engagement and establish a robust ecosystem around digital certification, providing long-term value for the platform.
4. Long-term Sustainability: By incorporating IPFS for storage and employing a decentralized approach, we reduce ongoing costs associated with centralized data management, ensuring the system remains scalable and cost-effective as user adoption grows. This sustainable model is essential for maintaining the ecosystem's integrity and usability.