Last updated 8 months ago
Ethiopian universities face rampant certificate fraud due to paper-based systems, causing costly, slow, and unreliable verification for employers, institutions, and graduates.
A Cardano-powered platform to issue, store, and verify tamper-proof digital university certificates, enabling instant, secure, and fraud-proof academic credential validation.
This is the total amount allocated to Cardano-Based University Certificate Verification.
Please provide your proposal title
Cardano-Based University Certificate Verification
Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA
85000
Please specify how many months you expect your project to last
12
Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated
No
Original Language
en
What is the problem you want to solve?
Ethiopian universities face rampant certificate fraud due to paper-based systems, causing costly, slow, and unreliable verification for employers, institutions, and graduates.
Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?
Yes
Describe any dependencies or write 'No dependencies'
We are initiating discussions with public and private universities in Addis Ababa and Oromia regions to test the platform with a limited set of graduates and certificate types.
Will your project's outputs be fully open source?
Yes
License and Additional Information
All smart contracts, system architecture, UI code, and integration documentation will be published on GitHub under a permissive license, allowing use by other universities globally.
Please choose the most relevant theme and tag related to the outcomes of your proposal.
Identity & Verification
Describe what makes your idea innovative compared to what has been previously funded (whether by you or others).
This project tackles Ethiopia’s certificate fraud with a localized, Cardano-powered verification system unlike previous global-focused solutions. It’s built with Ethiopian universities, works in low-bandwidth settings, and combines smart contracts, IPFS storage, and QR verification. The open-source, cost-effective design enables scalable adoption across Africa.
Describe what your prototype or MVP will demonstrate, and where it can be accessed.
Our MVP will showcase the full certificate issuance and verification flow on the Cardano testnet. It includes a university admin dashboard to issue blockchain-anchored certificates, a graduate wallet to view/share them, and a public verifier portal to confirm authenticity via QR code or ID. Hosted on a public testnet site, it will be accessible with demo credentials, and the open-source code will be published on GitHub for testing and feedback.
Describe realistic measures of success, ideally with on-chain metrics.
Success will be measured by the number of certificates issued and verified on-chain during the pilot, tracked via Cardano transaction IDs. Targets include at least 50 blockchain-anchored certificates issued by partner universities and 100+ verification transactions on the public portal. Additional metrics include the number of active university admin accounts, graduate wallet activations, and verifier portal usage logs, all validated through blockchain records and open analytics dashboards.
Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem
We will develop a decentralized certificate issuance and verification platform on the Cardano blockchain, integrated with a web interface and QR code validator.
🎓 Core Features:
University Certificate Issuance Panel
Admin interface for universities to issue graduate certificates as blockchain records
Metadata stored on-chain, linked to off-chain document if needed
Student Credential Wallet
Graduates receive a unique blockchain certificate link or QR code
Viewable and shareable through a verification portal
Instant Verifier Portal
Employers, embassies, and scholarship boards can verify authenticity instantly
Public access or private key-based access for sensitive cases
Tamper-Proof Records
Certificates stored immutably using smart contracts and IPFS (if off-chain needed)
📍 WHY ETHIOPIA?
Over 25 universities and thousands of private colleges with no centralized verification system
Paper-based documentation creates widespread forgery and trust issues
This solution strengthens institutional credibility and global recognition of Ethiopian degrees
Supports students, job seekers, and cross-border education validation
Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community
Showcases Cardano’s Public Infrastructure Power – A civic-grade application in higher education
Expands Cardano Adoption – Onboards institutions, students, and employers to the ecosystem
Open Global Model – Outputs can be reused in any country, especially across Africa
Strengthens Trust in Credentials – Cardano becomes the platform of trust for academic truth
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?
Blockchain Technical Expertise – Our team includes smart contract developers, backend engineers, and educators
University Relationships – We are actively collaborating with academic leaders and administrative offices
Pilot-Ready Design – The project will start with 1–2 departments and expand based on feedback
Modular System – Future upgrades may include diploma images, transcript anchoring, and integration with digital ID
Milestone Title
Research & Partnership Setup
Milestone Outputs
Signed MoU or partnership agreements with at least 1–2 Ethiopian universities for pilot participation.
Detailed requirements document covering certificate formats, security needs, and compliance standards.
Technical architecture plan outlining blockchain, smart contract, and storage approach.
Implementation roadmap with timelines, responsibilities, and dependencies clearly defined.
Acceptance Criteria
At least one formal signed agreement with a participating Ethiopian university is secured.
Requirements document is reviewed and approved by both the technical team and partner university.
Technical architecture plan is validated for feasibility on Cardano and meets project objectives.
Implementation roadmap is complete, realistic, and endorsed by all core team members.
Evidence of Completion
Copies (PDF/scans) of signed MoUs or partnership agreements with universities.
Finalized requirements document shared in project repository.
Approved technical architecture diagram and specifications document.
Published implementation roadmap in GitHub or project documentation portal.
Delivery Month
2
Cost
11000
Progress
10 %
Milestone Title
Platform Development
Milestone Outputs
Deployed Plutus smart contracts for certificate issuance and verification on Cardano testnet.
Functional backend API enabling secure communication between blockchain and platform.
University admin dashboard with login, certificate creation, and record management features.
Basic database setup for off-chain metadata and integration with IPFS for document storage.
Acceptance Criteria
Smart contracts for certificate issuance and verification are successfully deployed and tested on Cardano testnet without critical bugs.
Backend API securely connects the admin dashboard to the blockchain and passes internal security review.
Admin dashboard allows authorized university staff to log in, issue, and manage certificates.
IPFS integration is functional, enabling upload and retrieval of certificate files linked to on-chain records.
Evidence of Completion
Public Cardano testnet transaction IDs showing deployed smart contracts.
API documentation and endpoint test logs demonstrating secure data flow.
Screenshots or video demo of the working admin dashboard issuing test certificates.
IPFS content hashes (CIDs) linked to issued certificates and verified through the platform.
Delivery Month
3
Cost
19000
Progress
30 %
Milestone Title
Student Wallet & Verifier Portal
Milestone Outputs
Functional digital wallet interface for graduates to securely access and share certificates.
Unique QR code generation for each issued certificate, linking to blockchain record.
Public verifier portal enabling employers or institutions to instantly confirm authenticity.
Internal test results demonstrating successful verification from multiple user roles (student, employer, admin).
Acceptance Criteria
Graduate wallet allows secure login and displays blockchain-linked certificates without data errors.
Each certificate’s QR code correctly resolves to its on-chain verification record.
Verifier portal successfully validates certificate authenticity in under 5 seconds.
Internal tests confirm that both valid and invalid certificates return correct verification results.
Evidence of Completion
Screenshots or video demo showing a graduate accessing certificates via the wallet.
Sample QR codes generated and tested, with verification results displayed.
Publicly accessible verifier portal URL with working test certificates.
Test logs or reports documenting successful and failed verification cases during internal trials.
Delivery Month
3
Cost
34000
Progress
30 %
Milestone Title
Pilot Launch & Testing
Milestone Outputs
Live issuance of blockchain-anchored certificates for the pilot graduating class.
Verified employer and university partner accounts actively using the platform.
Collected feedback from students, employers, and administrative staff through surveys or interviews.
Updated platform features and bug fixes based on pilot test results.
Acceptance Criteria
At least 50 blockchain-based certificates are issued to graduates during the pilot phase.
Employers and partner university staff can successfully verify certificates via the public portal without technical assistance.
Minimum of 80% positive feedback from pilot participants on usability and trust in the system.
All identified critical bugs from pilot testing are resolved before wider rollout.
Evidence of Completion
Blockchain transaction IDs for all certificates issued during the pilot.
Verification logs showing successful checks from employer and university accounts.
Compiled survey results and interview summaries from pilot participants.
Change log or release notes detailing bug fixes and feature improvements post-pilot.
Delivery Month
2
Cost
14000
Progress
20 %
Milestone Title
Training & Open-Source Release
Milestone Outputs
Completed training sessions for university administrative staff with attendance records.
Comprehensive user manuals and video tutorials for issuers, graduates, and verifiers.
Open-source release of smart contracts, backend, and frontend code on GitHub.
Final project report summarizing implementation, pilot results, and ecosystem impact.
Acceptance Criteria
At least two structured training sessions conducted with documented attendance from partner university staff.
User manuals and video tutorials reviewed and approved by the project team for clarity and completeness.
All project code and documentation published on GitHub under an open-source license.
Final project report delivered, covering technical details, pilot outcomes, lessons learned, and recommendations for scaling.
Evidence of Completion
Attendance sheets or sign-in records from university staff training sessions.
Public links to downloadable user manuals and video tutorials.
GitHub repository link containing smart contracts, backend, frontend code, and documentation.
Published PDF of the final project report shared with Catalyst and partner institutions.
Delivery Month
2
Cost
7000
Progress
10 %
Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources
The total project cost is 85,000 ADA , carefully allocated to balance technical development, adoption, and sustainability. Smart Contract Development (17,000 ADA) covers designing, coding, and deploying secure Plutus contracts for certificate issuance and verification. Backend & API Setup (15,000 ADA) funds secure API development, database integration, and IPFS linking for off-chain storage. Frontend UI Development (13,000 ADA) delivers the admin dashboard, graduate wallet, and verifier portal, ensuring all stakeholders can easily use the system.
To maximize adoption, University Partnership & Training (14,000 ADA) supports onboarding, in-person workshops, and pilot testing with partner institutions. UX Design & QR Tools (6,500 ADA) ensures a user-friendly, visually appealing, and verifiable certificate experience. Documentation & Translation (5,500 ADA) produces bilingual manuals and guides in Amharic and English to reach a wider audience. Outreach, Reporting & Publishing (7,000 ADA) funds Catalyst updates, promotional activities, and public demonstrations. Project Management & Support (7,000 ADA) ensures efficient coordination, milestone tracking, and compliance reporting.
This allocation delivers a robust, open-source solution that addresses certificate fraud in Ethiopia while promoting Cardano adoption across academia and beyond.
How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?
This project delivers exceptional value by addressing a widespread, high-impact problem academic certificate fraud through a one-time investment that produces a permanent, reusable, and open-source solution. By leveraging Cardano’s secure and low-cost blockchain infrastructure, the system ensures tamper-proof, instantly verifiable certificates with minimal ongoing expenses for universities.
The allocation of 85,000 ADA prioritizes both technical robustness (smart contracts, backend, and frontend development) and institutional adoption (training, outreach, and bilingual documentation). Once implemented, the platform enables Ethiopian universities to issue and verify certificates at near-zero marginal cost, eliminating manual verification expenses and delays.
Open-sourcing the code maximizes the return on investment by making the solution scalable across Africa and globally, promoting Cardano as the go-to infrastructure for trusted academic credentials. This combination of local impact, global applicability, and low recurring costs ensures that every ADA spent generates lasting educational, economic, and ecosystem value.
Terms and Conditions:
Yes
Our team combines blockchain development expertise, academic engagement experience, and strong local partnerships to deliver this project effectively. Firaol Gezahegn (Project Lead) brings extensive experience in technology project coordination, partnership building, and stakeholder engagement, ensuring smooth collaboration between universities, employers, and the technical team. Nataniem Seyoum (Education Lead) specializes in academic program coordination and training, bridging the gap between technical innovation and university processes.
The Smart Contract Developer will design and deploy Plutus-based certificate issuance and verification contracts on the Cardano blockchain, ensuring security, immutability, and compliance. The Backend Developer will build secure APIs, manage database integration, and connect blockchain transactions to the web platform, while the Frontend Developer will create intuitive, user-friendly dashboards, graduate wallets, and verifier portals. A UI/UX Designer will optimize the platform for ease of use across all stakeholders.
Finally, our Legal & Compliance Advisor will ensure adherence to Ethiopian data protection laws and academic regulations, facilitating smooth institutional adoption. Together, this multidisciplinary team will deliver a robust, scalable, and open-source solution that can be replicated beyond Ethiopia, advancing Cardano adoption in education.