Last updated 8 months ago
Despite Cardano’s growth, most African mobile users lack awareness due to low digital literacy, costly internet, and scams, limiting wallets, staking, and ecosystem adoption.
Use SMS campaigns to educate 1M+ users on Cardano, enabling wallet creation, staking, and engagement without internet or smartphones.
This is the total amount allocated to Cardano Connect SMS – Blockchain Education at Scale.
Please provide your proposal title
Cardano Connect SMS – Blockchain Education at Scale
Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA
38000
Please specify how many months you expect your project to last
10
Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated
No
Original Language
en
What is the problem you want to solve?
Despite Cardano’s growth, most African mobile users lack awareness due to low digital literacy, costly internet, and scams, limiting wallets, staking, and ecosystem adoption.
Supporting links
Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?
Yes
Describe any dependencies or write 'No dependencies'
Our project has limited dependencies. That’s on telecom providers for bulk SMS delivery, as partnerships and agreements with local operators are essential for scaling outreach across the target areas.
Will your project's outputs be fully open source?
Yes
License and Additional Information
the project’s outputs will be fully open source. All SMS content templates, campaign scripts, analytics dashboards, and educational materials will be shared under the MIT License, allowing free use, modification, and distribution.
Please choose the most relevant theme and tag related to the outcomes of your proposal
Community Outreach
Who you’re targeting, how you’ll reach them, and why this matters for Cardano.
This project targets mobile users in Kenya and Ethiopia with limited internet, low digital literacy, and little blockchain exposure.
Partnering with telecoms, we’ll send educational SMS to 1M+ users, offer voice guidance, ADA rewards, and webinar invites.
This will boost wallet adoption, staking, and trust, bringing unbanked and offline populations into the Cardano ecosystem for sustainable, large-scale growth.
Provide a list of key activities of your project?
securing telecom partnerships in Kenya and Ethiopia;
creating localized, jargon-free SMS content;
setting up bulk SMS and reply systems;
running a 200K-SMS pilot;
rolling out 1M+ SMS nationwide;
rewarding 5K ADA for users;
hosting DeFi webinars for top 1K;
monitoring engagement and preventing fraud;
measuring wallet growth and staking; and
publishing impact reports for community scaling.
What are your success metrics?
Success will be measured by delivering 1M+ SMS with 90%+ delivery rate, achieving 10K+ replies (≥5% engagement),
creating 1K+ new wallets, and
onboarding 5K+ first-time stakers.
Additional metrics include high participation in DeFi webinars, measurable adoption growth in Kenya and Ethiopia, positive community feedback, and readiness to replicate the model in other African countries for broader Cardano ecosystem expansion.
Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem
Our solution is a large-scale bulk SMS blockchain education campaign focused on Kenya and Ethiopia, where mobile phone penetration is high but internet access remains limited.
Many people in these regions have never encountered Cardano due to high data costs, low digital literacy, and distrust of online crypto content.
SMS allows us to bypass these barriers and deliver simple, trusted, and actionable blockchain education directly to their phones.
We will partner with local telecom providers to send over 1 million localized, jargon-free messages introducing Cardano, ADA staking, and wallet creation. Recipients can reply to receive voice guides or small ADA rewards, allowing them to experience blockchain firsthand.
This approach combines high SMS open rates with clear calls-to-action, ensuring maximum reach and engagement without requiring smartphones or internet access.
By leveraging official telecom networks, we build credibility and minimize the risk of scams, fostering trust in the Cardano brand.
The campaign will directly drive wallet adoption, staking participation, and overall ecosystem growth in untapped markets.
The results will be fully measurable through delivery reports, reply rates, wallet activations, and staking participation, creating a scalable model for expanding Cardano adoption across other regions in Africa and beyond.
Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community
This project will significantly expand Cardano’s presence in underserved markets by reaching millions of people in Kenya and Ethiopia who have never engaged with blockchain.
By delivering trusted, easy-to-understand education via SMS, we will onboard thousands of first-time ADA holders, increase staking participation, and grow active wallet usage.
The campaign will help diversify the Cardano user base beyond tech-savvy audiences, strengthening network decentralization and adoption in emerging economies.
These new users will bring fresh perspectives, localized use cases, and grassroots advocacy, enriching the global Cardano community.
Additionally, the data, engagement metrics, and localized content from this project will be openly shared, providing a replicable model for similar campaigns worldwide.
This will empower other community members and projects to expand Cardano adoption using low-cost, high-impact outreach strategies in regions with limited internet access.
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?
I have a proven track record of delivering blockchain awareness and education initiatives in Ethiopia and Kenya, working with trusted partners like Endubis Wallet, Cardano Academy, and Kese Events.
My experience includes organizing blockchain workshops, executing telecom-based campaigns, and managing large-scale public outreach, ensuring transparency and measurable results.
I also maintain strong connections with local telecoms, community leaders, and media networks, enabling efficient execution.
To maintain trust and accountability, I will manage all project funds transparently, providing detailed expenditure reports and milestone updates to the Cardano community.
Each project stage will be tracked against predefined KPIs, with independent partner oversight to ensure deliverables meet the highest quality standards.
Feasibility will be validated through a targeted two-week pilot SMS campaign in select regions of Ethiopia and Kenya.
Engagement rates, wallet activations, and user feedback from the pilot will be carefully analyzed to refine messaging, confirm cultural relevance, and optimize outreach before scaling to a nationwide campaign.
Milestone Title
Partnerships & Setup
Milestone Outputs
Signed MoUs with telecom providers and key partners, developed and localized SMS content in multiple languages, and implemented a fully functional automated reply system for user engagement and support.
Acceptance Criteria
All partnership agreements signed and documented, SMS content reviewed and approved for multiple languages, and the automated messaging and reply system fully operational, ensuring readiness for pilot and full-scale rollout.
Evidence of Completion
Copies of signed MoUs with telecoms and partners, finalized SMS content drafts in multiple languages, and screenshots demonstrating the automated messaging and reply system functionality as evidence of readiness.
Delivery Month
2
Cost
20000
Progress
30 %
Milestone Title
Pilot SMS Campaign
Milestone Outputs
During the pilot phase, 200,000 SMS messages will be successfully sent to targeted users, with detailed monitoring of engagement metrics, including response rates and interaction patterns. Comprehensive feedback will be collected from recipients to evaluate message clarity, relevance, and impact, allowing for data-driven adjustments and optimizations to ensure maximum effectiveness and reach in the subsequent full-scale campaign rollout.
Acceptance Criteria
A minimum of 20% user response rate will be achieved;
All identified issues will be addressed, and the SMS system will be fully optimized to ensure smooth and effective execution during the full-scale campaign rollout.
Evidence of Completion
SMS delivery logs will be compiled, engagement reports generated, and a comprehensive feedback summary prepared to document pilot performance and inform improvements for the full-scale campaign rollout.
Delivery Month
3
Cost
10000
Progress
30 %
Milestone Title
Full Rollout & Impact Report
Milestone Outputs
Over 1 million SMS messages will be sent across targeted regions, resulting in the creation of more than 1,000 new Cardano wallets. A comprehensive post-campaign impact report will be compiled, detailing SMS delivery rates, user engagement, wallet activations, response patterns, and overall effectiveness to guide future mass adoption initiatives.
Acceptance Criteria
Achieve over 90% SMS delivery rate and more than 5% user engagement, with a detailed post-campaign report reviewed and approved by all relevant stakeholders, demonstrating campaign effectiveness and providing insights for future Cardano adoption initiatives.
Evidence of Completion
Comprehensive SMS delivery logs, detailed wallet creation data, and a fully published post-campaign report documenting outreach, engagement, and impact, providing clear evidence of project outcomes and measurable contributions to Cardano ecosystem growth.
Delivery Month
6
Cost
8000
Progress
40 %
Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources
₳38,000 – The total budget covers all project activities and resources.
₳15,000 will be allocated for SMS campaign and telecom fees, including bulk SMS distribution to 1M+ users across Kenya and Ethiopia and telecom compliance charges.
₳6,000 is reserved for content development and localization, ensuring educational SMS messages are crafted and translated into local languages.
₳7,000 will go toward setting up the automated reply system, integrating SMS responses with a call center or chatbot, and testing for efficiency.
₳5,000 is allocated for ADA incentives and wallet setup, supporting 1,000+ participants and enabling Endubis Wallet staking.
₳3,000 will fund monitoring, analytics, and reporting, tracking engagement, collecting feedback, and evaluating KPIs. Finally,
₳2,000 is set aside for miscellaneous and contingency costs, covering unexpected expenses or additional technical support.
How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?
The project delivers significant value to the Cardano ecosystem by enabling mass adoption in regions with low internet access.
By educating users in Kenya and Ethiopia about ADA, staking, and decentralized finance, it addresses critical barriers of awareness, trust, and digital literacy, expanding Cardano’s user base and ecosystem activity.
₳38,000 will be invested to maximize impact: bulk SMS distribution to 1M+ users, automated response systems, content localization, and ADA incentives for first-time wallet creators.
This targeted, measurable approach ensures efficient resource use while generating tangible adoption metrics.
By creating thousands of new wallets, increasing staking participation, and providing verified data on engagement, the project strengthens the Cardano community, supports ecosystem growth, and builds trust among users, demonstrating a high return on investment for both the community and the network.
Terms and Conditions:
Yes
Project Lead By Tamrat Tesfaye – Oversees planning, execution, and reporting; ensures milestones and KPIs are met. https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamrat-tesfaye-578941252?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BtstZU%2BNOQXmfodNhlhmJOg%3D%3D
Telecom Partners (Kenya & Ethiopia) – Facilitate SMS distribution and compliance with local regulations.
Santa Trading PLC – Provides digital marketing, campaign management, and analytics support for SMS outreach.https://www.linkedin.com/company/santa-trading-plc/posts/?feedView=all
Cardano Academy – Provides educational content and blockchain guidance.https://x.com/Cardano_Academy
Endubis Wallet – Supports wallet setup, ADA distribution, and staking guidance. https://www.linkedin.com/company/endubis-blockchain-solutions/posts/?feedView=all
Kese Events – Manages impact reporting, documentation, and media coverage. https://www.linkedin.com/company/kese-events/posts/?feedView=all
Local Community Volunteers – Assist with language localization, call-backs, and user support.
This collaboration ensures operational efficiency, trust, and high-quality outreach across target regions.