[Proposal setup] Proposal title

Please provide your proposal title

Blockchain Gateway Ethiopia: Cardano for All

[Proposal Summary] Budget Information

Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA

58000

[Proposal Summary] Time

Please specify how many months you expect your project to last

12

[Proposal Summary] Translation Information

Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated

No

Original Language

en

[Proposal Summary] Problem Statement

What is the problem you want to solve?

Blockchain awareness in Ethiopia is near zero; communities lack a trusted entry point to learn, adopt and engage with Cardano.

[Proposal Summary] Project Dependencies

Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

No

Describe any dependencies or write 'No dependencies'

No dependencies

[Proposal Summary] Project Open Source

Will your project's outputs be fully open source?

Yes

License and Additional Information

Yes. All produced educational materials (guides, training decks, videos, workshop formats) will be openly shared under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) license on GitHub and YouTube, ensuring other African communities can replicate and adapt.

[Theme Selection] Theme

Please choose the most relevant theme and tag related to the outcomes of your proposal

Education

[Campaign Category] Category Questions

Who you’re targeting, how you’ll reach them, and why this matters for Cardano.

We target Ethiopian youth, university/college students, entrepreneurs, creatives and cooperative leaders. Outreach will be through a physical hub in Addis, monthly cultural education events, regional pop up programs and bilingual media campaigns (Amharic & English). This matters because Ethiopia is Africa’s second most populous nation (120M+ people) yet has negligible blockchain adoption — unlocking this market expands Cardano’s global reach.

Provide a list of key activities of your project?

1. Establish Addis hub (“Ethiopian Blockchain Gateway”).
2. Monthly Cardano & Coffee community events.
3. Four regional pop up outreach tours.
4. Produce 24 short bilingual video explainers.
5. Continuous wallet onboarding & Cardano training.
6. Partnerships with 10+ universities/colleges.

What are your success metrics?

• 1 permanent hub launched.
• 12+ monthly events (50+ attendees each).
• 4 regional pop-up hubs (150+ attendees each).
• 1000+ wallets onboarded.
• 20,000+ social media reach.
• 20 institutional partnerships.
• Public repository of content for African replication.

[Your Project and Solution] Solution

Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem

Ethiopia, with a population exceeding 120 million, is one of Africa’s youngest and fastest growing nations. Despite its potential, blockchain awareness and adoption remain extremely limited. Today most Ethiopians are unfamiliar with blockchain and those who have heard of it often associate it with speculation, scams or inaccessible foreign projects. This lack of trust and understanding prevents people from engaging with a technology that could provide real solutions to local challenges: transparent financial systems, agricultural supply chain traceability and global access to decentralized finance.

The solution we propose is the Ethiopian Blockchain Gateway a dedicated, year long Cardano hub in Addis Ababa that combines education, culture and outreach into a permanent grassroots ecosystem building initiative. Unlike one off events or ad hoc training sessions, the Gateway creates a consistent, visible and trusted entry point where Ethiopians can learn about Cardano, set up their first wallet, engage in discussions and discover real world applications of blockchain.

The Gateway will function on three interconnected levels:

• Physical Hub in Addis Ababa

A space designed for monthly community events (“Cardano & Coffee” sessions), open office hours and Cardano themed cultural exhibitions. The hub will host university & college students, entrepreneurs, creatives, and cooperative leaders, offering both structured training and casual, culturally rooted sessions where blockchain is explained through familiar contexts such as coffee farming, market cooperatives and art.

• Regional Pop-Up Outreach

A space designed for monthly community events (“Cardano & Coffee” sessions), open office hours, and Cardano-themed cultural exhibitions. The hub will host university students, entrepreneurs, creatives, and cooperative leaders, offering both structured training and casual, culturally rooted sessions where blockchain is explained through familiar contexts such as coffee farming, market cooperatives, and art.

• Bilingual Media & Content Production

The Gateway will produce at least 24 short videos and learning guides in Amharic and English, distributed via YouTube, TikTok, Telegram and Instagram the most popular youth platforms in Ethiopia. Topics will range from “What is Cardano?” to “How to set up your wallet”. All content will be open source, freely shared for replication across Africa.

Through these three dimensions, the Ethiopian Blockchain Gateway ensures both depth (sustained, face to face engagement) and breadth (nationwide reach via media and pop-ups). By the end of 12 months, Ethiopia will have a living, breathing Cardano hub that continues beyond the grant period and provides a tested model for other African countries.

[Your Project and Solution] Impact

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

The Ethiopian Blockchain Gateway will generate direct, measurable impact for the Cardano ecosystem while delivering long-term strategic benefits. In terms of direct ecosystem growth, the project will onboard over 1000 new Cardano wallets through hands on events and training sessions, engage more than 3000 people in person at the Addis Ababa hub and regional pop-up activations and reach over 50,000 individuals online via bilingual educational videos and accessible guides.

Beyond these metrics the initiative will foster grassroots community building. A permanent local community will coalesce around the Addis hub, designed to become self-sustaining after initial funding concludes. Partnerships with university blockchain clubs will transform students into active Cardano advocates, while creatives including artists, musicians and filmmakers will integrate blockchain themes into their work. This cultural integration will broaden Cardano’s appeal beyond purely technological audiences, embedding it within Ethiopia’s creative fabric.

Critically, the project positions Cardano as Ethiopia’s blockchain of choice. As the first blockchain to establish a dedicated Ethiopian hub, Cardano gains a first-mover advantage in a nation with significant influence across Africa and strategic importance in global geopolitics. This presence will shift perceptions among local NGOs, cooperatives, and startups, framing Cardano as a practical solution rather than an abstract foreign concept.

The initiative also amplifies value for the Global Catalyst Community. All outputs such as training guides, event blueprints and video scripts will be openly shared, enabling replication in other African nations. This positions Ethiopia as a testbed for scalable, community driven blockchain literacy in regions with low awareness but high potential.

Impact will be rigorously measured through multiple channels: attendance logs, sign in sheets and wallet creation data from events; analytics from YouTube, TikTok and Telegram; pre and post engagement participant surveys to quantify knowledge gains and documented partnership agreements shared via Catalyst forums.

• In summary this project delivers new users, enhanced trust and cultural relevance to Cardano in Ethiopia while creating reusable tools and knowledge for global adoption.

[Your Project and Solution] Capabilities & 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 Ethiopian Blockchain Gateway will be delivered by a team with proven experience in education, community engagement and cultural programming in Ethiopia.

• Project Lead (Ermiyas Daniel): serves as Project Lead, bringing his expertise as a well educated and capable leader to oversee overall coordination, Catalyst reporting and financial accountability. His background in blockchain literacy and community organizing ensures strategic alignment.
• Community Manager (Alemtsehay Kasu) : acts as the knowledgeable Community Manager, responsible for day to day hub operations, monthly events and partnerships with universities/colleges and cooperatives. Her deep local insight drives grassroots engagement.
• Content Creator & Media Lead (Ermiyas Daniel): Produces bilingual videos, guides and manages digital campaigns.
• Finance & Compliance Manager: Ensures transparent use of funds, accounting and milestone reporting.
• Regional Coordinators (contract based): Support outreach events in 4 different Ethiopian cities.

Feasibility:

• Hub space has been pre identified in Addis Ababa, ensuring immediate setup.
• Partnerships in discussion with universities/collages and creative collectives.
• Budget sized realistically for Ethiopian costs, ensuring resources stretch further.
• Clear milestones reduce risk: each stage produces tangible outputs before moving to the next.
• Transparent reporting to Catalyst (photos, video, analytics, receipts) will validate progress and build trust.

[Milestones] Project Milestones

Milestone Title

Hub Setup & Initial Community Launch

Milestone Outputs

• Launch and equip the Addis Ababa Blockchain Gateway hub.
• Host first 3 “Cardano & Coffee” community events (50+ participants each).
• Produce and release first 6 bilingual (Amharic & English) educational videos on Cardano basics.
• Establish initial university and co-op partnerships (at least 5 institutions).

Acceptance Criteria

• Functional physical hub established, with signage and facilities ready for community use.
• At least 150 attendees across 3 launch events.
• Evidence of 200+ wallets created or activated.
• First 6 educational videos publicly available online.
• Signed MOUs or letters of collaboration with 5 universities/co-ops.

Evidence of Completion

• Photos, invoices and signed lease/contracts for hub setup.
• Event reports with attendance logs and participant surveys.
• Wallet onboarding statistics/screenshots.
• YouTube links and GitHub repo containing educational materials.
• Copies of partnership agreements uploaded to Catalyst reporting.

Delivery Month

3

Cost

18000

Progress

30 %

Milestone Title

Expansion & Regional Outreach

Milestone Outputs

• Organize 8 additional monthly events in Addis Ababa hub (50+ attendees each).
• Deploy 2 regional pop-up hubs in cities outside Addis (Bahir Dar & Hawassa min. 150 participants each).
• Release 12 more bilingual videos (topics: Cardano wallets, staking, real-world applications).
• Secure partnerships with 10 additional institutions (universities, cultural organizations, or farmer cooperatives).
• Build Telegram community to 1000 active members.

Acceptance Criteria

• At least 400 attendees across 8 Addis events.
• Minimum 300 attendees across 2 pop-up hubs.
• Total 18 videos available online (12 new + 6 from Milestone 1).
• Total of 15 institutional partners onboarded.
• Online community active with at least 1000 members and regular engagement.

Evidence of Completion

• Event attendance sheets and photographic evidence.
• Media coverage or local press articles on regional pop up hubs.
• Video links with analytics dashboards showing reach.
• Partnership letters/contracts.
• Screenshots of Telegram showing membership size and activity.

Delivery Month

8

Cost

20000

Progress

40 %

Milestone Title

Consolidation, Replication & Close-Out

Milestone Outputs

• Final 4 community events in Addis hub (50+ attendees each).
• 2 additional regional pop-up hubs (Dire Dawa & Adama).
• Produce final 6 bilingual videos (24 total across the project).
• Publish an open source replication guide: “How to Build a Cardano Community Hub in Africa.”
• Complete final project report & close out video for Catalyst community.
• Achieve cumulative project KPIs:

1. 1000 wallets created.
2. 50,000+ online reach.
3. 20+ institutional partnerships.

Acceptance Criteria

• Minimum 200 attendees across final 4 Addis events.
• 300+ attendees at final 2 regional pop ups.
• Full set of 24 videos accessible online with at least 20,000 cumulative views.
• Replication guide uploaded to GitHub and shared publicly.
• Final close out report submitted with full financial transparency.
• Independent verification of KPI achievement (wallet creation, partnerships, video reach).

Evidence of Completion

• Event logs, attendance lists, and media from Addis and regional events.
• Final video links with analytics data.
• PDF and GitHub repository of replication guide.
• Screenshots and summaries of institutional partnerships.
• Catalyst close out video uploaded to YouTube.
• Final report filed through Catalyst with receipts, contracts, and full narrative of results.

Delivery Month

12

Cost

20000

Progress

30 %

[Final Pitch] Budget & Costs

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

The budget has been carefully designed to balance physical infrastructure, events, media production, staffing, and outreach, while ensuring efficient use of Catalyst funds. Costs are based on Ethiopian market rates, which are considerably lower than global averages, meaning Catalyst achieves much greater impact per ADA spent.

1. Hub Rental, Setup & Operations (₳15,000)

• Rental of physical space in Addis Ababa for 12 months.
• Utilities, internet, branding, signage, basic furniture (chairs, tables, projector, screen).
• Initial launch setup (press event, community outreach, promotional materials).
• Ongoing monthly maintenance to keep the space functional and accessible.

2. Events & Regional Pop-Ups (₳20,000)

• Addis Hub Events: 12 monthly “Cardano & Coffee” meetups, each hosting ~50 participants. Covers catering, facilitation, logistics, printed learning materials, and wallet-onboarding support.
• Regional Outreach: 4 pop-up hubs in Bahir Dar, Hawassa, Dire Dawa, and Mekelle. Covers travel, temporary space rental, outreach campaigns, and staff stipends.

3. Media Content Production (₳10,000)

• Production of 24 bilingual short videos (Amharic & English) on Cardano basics, staking, wallets, use cases in agriculture/finance, and community stories.
• Translation, subtitling, and distribution across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Telegram.
• Design and printing of simple learning guides and infographics.

4. Staffing & Coordination (₳8000)

• Project Lead: Oversight, Catalyst reporting, coordination with Cardano community.
• Community Manager: Event facilitation, partnerships with universities/colleges, NGOs, and co-ops.
• Media Lead: Video production, translations, online campaign management.
• Finance/Admin: Bookkeeping, expense tracking, milestone reporting.
• Regional facilitators (on contract) for pop up events.

5. Marketing & Outreach (₳3000)

• Posters, flyers, and radio spots for rural engagement.
• Online ads (Telegram, Instagram, TikTok boosts) to reach youth audiences.
• Transportation and field engagement in local markets/universities.

6. Reporting, Documentation & Close-Out (₳2000)

• Regular progress reports (event reports, wallet stats, analytics dashboards).
• Final open-source replication guide (“How to Build a Cardano Hub in Africa”).
• Final project close out video and Catalyst completion report.

[Final Pitch] Value for Money

How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?

The Ethiopian Blockchain Gateway represents exceptional value for Catalyst and the global Cardano community.

High Output to Cost Ratio

For ₳58,000 the project delivers: one permanent Cardano hub, 16+ live events (12 in Addis Ababa, 4 in other cities), 24 bilingual educational videos and guides, 20 institutional partnerships, 1000+ wallets created and 50,000+ online reach. Comparable initiatives in Europe or the U.S. would require 3–4x higher budgets due to rental, staffing and production costs. Catalyst gains multiplicative efficiency by investing in Ethiopia.

LongTerm Infrastructure vs ShortTerm Marketing

While many proposals focus on single campaigns or isolated events, this project builds a permanent, physical presence the hub. This ensures continuity, sustainability and a foundation for future community driven projects even after Catalyst funding ends.

Strategic First Mover Advantage in Ethiopia

Ethiopia is Africa’s second most populous country (120M+) with a youthful population (median age 19.5 years). By establishing the first blockchain hub in Ethiopia, Cardano gains a strategic foothold in an underdeveloped but high potential market. This positions Cardano ahead of rival blockchains in grassroots adoption and reputation.

Open Source & Replicability

All outputs including training decks, video scripts, event formats, and a replication guide will be released under Creative Commons. This means the ₳58,000 investment benefits not only Ethiopia; deliverables can be reused by other African or global communities, multiplying impact across Catalyst.

Accountability & Transparency

The project follows a clear milestone structure with tangible outputs and public evidence. Regular progress reports include photos, videos, analytics and financial receipts. Independent verification occurs through Catalyst’s close out process.

Cost Benchmarking

• Average monthly cost of Addis Ababa event space rental + utilities: $800–1000 (covered by hub budget).
• Average cost per community event (50 participants, catering, logistics): $500–700.
• Average cost of video production in Ethiopia (short, bilingual): $200–250 per video.
• These figures confirm the proposed budget is realistic, efficient and aligned with Ethiopian market rates, ensuring no overspending or hidden inflation.

[Required Acknowledgements] Consent & Confirmation

Terms and Conditions:

Yes