Cardano4Skill: Practical Training for Ethiopian Businesses

[Proposal setup] Proposal title

Please provide your proposal title

Cardano4Skill: Practical Training for Ethiopian Businesses

[Proposal Summary] Budget Information

Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA

60000

[Proposal Summary] Time

Please specify how many months you expect your project to last

7

[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?

Business professionals in Ethiopia can’t leverage Cardano for secure transactions, governance, and innovation due to limited hands-on skills, limiting blockchain integration and work improvement.

[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, this project is open source as all training materials, guides, and example Cardano integrations will be published on GitHub for free reuse and adaptation globally.

[Theme Selection] Theme

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

Training

[Campaign Category] Category Questions

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

• We are targeting Ethiopian business professionals, especially small and medium-sized business owners and startup founders, who can integrate Cardano tools into real-world operations.
• We will reach them through partnerships with business associations, local hubs, and targeted outreach via social media, networking events, and meetups.
• This matters for Cardano because it engages people currently outside the ecosystem who have the potential to use it in their work, creating real impact. By enabling daily use, it helps grow and strengthen an active Cardano community in Ethiopia.

Provide a list of key activities of your project?

• Design training materials for Atala PRISM, wallet integration, Marlowe, and Project Catalyst
• Recruit Ethiopian business professionals, SMEs, and startup founders
• Deliver hands-on workshops and provide mentorship
• Support pilot deployments in participants’ businesses
• Conduct community outreach via meetups and social media
• Track wallets, testnet transactions, and new Catalyst voters
• Document outcomes and share open-source materials with the Cardano community

What are your success metrics?

• Number of Professionals Trained: 200+ Ethiopian business professionals complete the program.
• Wallet Creation: 150+ new Cardano wallets set up by participants.
• Testnet Activity: 200+ transactions executed on the Cardano testnet.
• Catalyst Participation: 50+ new voters enabled in Project Catalyst.
• Practical Implementation: Participants successfully apply Cardano tools in their businesses.
• Community Growth: Increased engagement in local Cardano meetups and online forums.
• Open-Source Impact: Training materials, guides, and examples are publicly accessed and reused.

[Your Project and Solution] Solution

Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem

Unlike other educational initiatives, this program emphasizes practical, hands-on implementation, giving Ethiopian business professionals, especially small and medium-sized business owners and startup founders, the tools to integrate Cardano into their daily operations.

Participants will receive mentorship and training on:

• Atala PRISM for secure digital IDs
• Wallet integrations for everyday transactions.
• Marlowe for creating and deploying smart contracts.
• Project Catalyst for accessing and securing funding and participating in governance.

Through structured workshops, practical exercises, and pilot deployments in their own businesses, participants gain real-world experience that extends beyond theory. Ongoing mentorship ensures long-term support and a sustainable community, where participants can continue learning, collaborating, and building new Cardano solutions.

By the end of the program, participants will confidently implement blockchain solutions, improve workflow efficiency, generate new revenue opportunities, and actively engage in governance and innovation on Cardano, contributing to a growing ecosystem of skilled professionals.

[Your Project and Solution] Impact

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

This project will grow Cardano adoption in Ethiopia by equipping professionals with practical blockchain skills. It will increase on-chain activity, wallet usage, smart contract deployment, and governance participation, while nurturing local innovators who contribute back to the global ecosystem.

Targets:

• Train 200+ professionals
• Create 150+ Cardano wallets
• Complete 200+ testnet transactions
• Enable 50+ new Catalyst voters

By turning trained professionals into active participants, this initiative will generate sustainable, real-world use cases, strengthen Cardano’s presence in Africa, and empower Ethiopia to become a skilled and engaged voice within the global Cardano community. Through this approach, the project ensures both immediate adoption and long-term community growth, creating a ripple effect that benefits the wider Cardano ecosystem.

[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?

• Our team combines expertise in business development, blockchain integration, and professional training, ensuring we can deliver this program effectively. We will implement the project in structured phases with measurable milestones, including hands-on workshops, pilot deployments, and mentorship.
• Feasibility will be validated through testnet transactions, wallet creation, and participant feedback. Progress will be tracked transparently, and all outcomes documented to maintain accountability and measurable impact. This structured, evidence-based approach ensures trust, reliability, and successful adoption of Cardano tools by participants.

[Milestones] Project Milestones

Milestone Title

Curriculum Design & Participant Recruitment

Milestone Outputs

• Develop and finalize the complete training curriculum covering Atala PRISM, wallet integration, Marlowe, and Project Catalyst.
• Prepare all learning materials, including guides, slides, exercises, and practical examples for hands-on workshops.
• Recruit and onboard pilot participants, ensuring they are ready and prepared to engage in the Cardano training program.

Acceptance Criteria

• Curriculum is fully finalized with all topics and modules clearly outlined.
• All training and learning materials are prepared, including guides, slides, and exercises.
• Pilot participants are recruited, confirmed, and fully onboarded, ready for hands-on Cardano workshops.

Evidence of Completion

• Complete curriculum documents detailing all training modules, topics, and exercises.
• Finalized participant list with all pilot participants confirmed and onboarded.
• Pilot training schedule prepared with dates, sessions, and practical exercises clearly outlined.

Delivery Month

1

Cost

18000

Progress

30 %

Milestone Title

Pilot Training Execution

Milestone Outputs

• Conduct pilot training sessions with initial participants.
• Guide participants through practical exercises on Cardano tools.
• Collect detailed feedback to refine and improve the full program rollout.

Acceptance Criteria

• Pilot training is fully completed with all sessions delivered as planned.
• Participants’ performance is evaluated through exercises and practical tasks.
• Feedback is collected from all participants to assess effectiveness and guide improvements

Evidence of Completion

• Training attendance logs maintained.
• Completed pilot exercises documented.
• Feedback forms showing participant engagement, learning outcomes, and satisfaction.

Delivery Month

3

Cost

14500

Progress

60 %

Milestone Title

Full Training Program Rollout

Milestone Outputs

• Deliver the full hands-on Cardano training program to all enrolled participants, covering Atala PRISM, wallet integration, Marlowe, and Project Catalyst modules.
• Provide comprehensive workshops with guided exercises to ensure participants gain practical experience using Cardano tools in real-world business scenarios.
• Offer ongoing mentorship and support to help participants apply what they learn, troubleshoot challenges, and successfully integrate Cardano tools into their daily operations.

Acceptance Criteria

• All participants complete the full Cardano training program, finishing every practical exercise and demonstrating understanding of Atala PRISM, wallet integration, Marlowe, and Project Catalyst.
• Participants show competency by successfully applying Cardano tools in practical exercises, completing all assigned tasks, and demonstrating readiness to implement these tools in real-world business operations.
• Ensure each participant finishes all practical exercises, fully engages in training sessions, and can confidently use Cardano tools in daily workflows, confirming the program’s learning objectives are met.

Evidence of Completion

• Maintain attendance logs showing all participants completed the full training program.
• Document all completed practical exercises for each participant.
• Keep records of workshops delivered, including materials and session notes.
• Track mentorship sessions and participant engagement as proof of program completion.

Delivery Month

6

Cost

14000

Progress

90 %

Milestone Title

Adoption Tracking & Impact Reporting

Milestone Outputs

• Track adoption by monitoring the creation of new Cardano wallets by participants.
• Monitor participant activity through testnet transactions to measure engagement.
• Record and verify new Catalyst voters enabled through the program.
• Compile and publish a detailed impact report for stakeholders and the wider Cardano community.

Acceptance Criteria

• Collect all adoption and usage metrics accurately, including wallets created, testnet transactions, and Catalyst voter participation.
• Complete the impact report summarizing findings and measurable outcomes.
• Publish and share the impact report with participants, stakeholders, and the wider Cardano community.

Evidence of Completion

• Wallet creation logs documenting new wallets set up by participants.
• Records of testnet transactions completed during the program.
• Finalized impact report demonstrating measurable project outcomes and adoption metrics.

Delivery Month

7

Cost

13500

Progress

100 %

[Final Pitch] Budget & Costs

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Curriculum Design & Participant Recruitment: ₳18,000

• Training materials: Design slides, guides, exercises - ₳8,000
• Participant recruitment & communication: Outreach, registration, onboarding -₳5,000
• Pilot preparation: Set up practice environments and test exercises -₳5,000

Pilot Training Execution: ₳14,500

• Hands-on pilot workshops: Training sessions for initial participants - ₳8,000
• Practical exercises: Smart contract, wallet, and PRISM exercises - ₳4,000
• Feedback collection & analysis: Surveys, performance tracking, and refinement - -₳2,500

Full Training Program Rollout: ₳14,000

• Main training sessions: Deliver full program to all participants – ₳8,000
• Workshops & mentorship: Interactive guidance and support – ₳4,000
• Materials & logistics: Printing, digital tools, software access – ₳2,000

Adoption Tracking & Impact Reporting: ₳13,500

• Monitoring & evaluation: Track wallets created, testnet transactions, and Catalyst voters – ₳6,000
• Impact report creation: Compile data, write report, design visuals – ₳5,000
• Dissemination & communication: Share report with community and Cardano stakeholders – ₳2,500

Total Budget: ₳60,000

[Final Pitch] Value for Money

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

This project offers exceptional value for the Cardano ecosystem because it transforms funding into real people, real skills, and real on-chain impact. We will turn untapped potential in Ethiopia into active Cardano adoption and innovation.

Every dollar spent will:

• Equip 200+ motivated professionals with hands-on skills in Cardano tools skills they can apply immediately in business, governance, and community building.
• Create 150+ new Cardano wallets, drive 200+ testnet transactions, and bring 50+ new voters into Project Catalyst expanding both participation and decentralization.
• Plant the seeds for locally-built dApps, proposals, and blockchain solutions that will flow back into the global ecosystem.

Ethiopia is a young, tech-driven nation with a rapidly growing developer and entrepreneur base. By empowering this community now, we are not just funding training, we are investing in a future where Africa’s innovators actively shape Cardano’s global story. The impact of this project will last far beyond its budget. Each trained professional becomes a lifelong advocate, contributor, and innovator for Cardano, multiplying the ecosystem’s reach in a cost-effective and sustainable way.

[Required Acknowledgements] Consent & Confirmation

Terms and Conditions:

Yes