$1.5T Impact Capital - How to Verify & Attribute this Impact

[Proposal setup] Proposal title

Please provide your proposal title

$1.5T Impact Capital - How to Verify & Attribute this Impact

[Proposal Summary] Budget Information

Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA

93000

[Proposal Summary] Time

Please specify how many months you expect your project to last

6

[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?

$1.5T in impact capital suffers from costly, siloed & PDF based reporting that undermines trust and attribution, enabling impact-washing and blocking results-based financing from scaling effectively.

[Proposal Summary] Supporting Documentation

Supporting links

• https://climafi.earth
,
• https://agsol.com/
,
• https://vakaconsulting.io/
,
• https://www.ukri.org/councils/innovate-uk/
,
• https://www.clasp.ngo/

[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?

No

License and Additional Information

Not open source

[Theme Selection] Theme

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

Sustainability

[Campaign Category] Category Questions

Describe what makes your idea innovative compared to what has been previously funded (whether by you or others).

ClimaFI brings a new combination to Cardano: a project that combines on-chain impact attestations with tokenised contributor attribution in a live pilot using real IoT, financial, and social data from productive-use green assets. Previous work has explored individual elements, but didn’t integrate them into a working, real-world system. Rather than assume how stakeholders might engage, our solution is shaped around active partnerships with funders, MSMEs, and communities, offering a replicable model for SDG-aligned projects to prove results, and enable results-based financing at scale.

Describe what your prototype or MVP will demonstrate, and where it can be accessed.

The MVP will show a complete proof-to-token workflow: IoT, financial, and social data from Agsol’s solar agro-mills validated against anomalies, secured as tamper-proof impact reports on Cardano, and linked to contributor tokens with project ID, SDG targets, and timestamps. As the platform is client-only, Catalyst reviewers will either have access to a demo dashboard with anonymised data or a guided video walkthrough showing the full verification process end-to-end, from raw data to on-chain proof.

Describe realistic measures of success, ideally with on-chain metrics.

Success will be measured by delivery of 3 validated impact reports hashed to Cardano; Impact Project Tokens issued to the funder with complete metadata, including project ID, SDG targets, and contribution details; confirmed end-to-end data flow from IoT devices through anomaly detection to on-chain proof; at least 5 separate verification lookups by the funder or their representatives; and a minimum 30% faster, lower-cost reporting process compared to traditional audits (funder feedback). On-chain metrics include number of proofs published and total Impact project tokens minted and distributed.

[Your Project and Solution] Solution

Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem

We will prove that impact data can be trusted, verified, and transparently attributed—without the cost and delays of traditional auditing.

With Catalyst funding, ClimaFI will extend its Impact Data Platform to deliver a complete Impact Authenticity and Attribution solution that leverages Cardano to verify impact outcomes and link them to specific contributors. This directly addresses the challenges of unreliable data, poor attribution, and costly verification.

Our solution will include:

• Impact Data Collection – We will integrate analytics that compare multiple data sources (e.g., IoT device readings vs. human-reported data) to detect anomalies or potentially fraudulent information. This increases confidence in the accuracy of reported outcomes and reduces the risk of impact-washing.
• Authentic Impact Reports – Validated data will be compiled into periodic impact reports. Each report’s cryptographic hash will be published to the Cardano blockchain, creating a tamper-proof proof of authenticity. Reports may also include results mapped to relevant SDG targets, providing transparent alignment with global development goals.
• Impact Project Tokens – We will issue Cardano native tokens to the funder and other project contributors. These tokens will represent the project, its intended SDG outcomes, and the funder’s specific contribution. Token metadata will include key identifiers (e.g., project ID, timestamp, SDG alignment) and, where relevant, the proportion of funding provided.

By transforming raw project data into verified, transparent outcomes and linking those outcomes to contributor tokens, ClimaFI will bridge the trust gap between funders, green asset businesses, and the communities they serve—while creating the foundation for scalable, results-based financing models.

[Your Project and Solution] Impact

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

We will show that Cardano can prove real-world impact—securely, transparently, and in a way that funders can trust.

This project will demonstrate how Cardano can secure, verify, and attribute real-world impact outcomes—setting a precedent for blockchain-powered trust in the development sector. By anchoring proof of impact reports and contributor attribution on-chain, we showcase Cardano as a credible platform for transparent, results-based financing.

For the Cardano community, this delivers:

• A replicable verification model – The architecture and process from this pilot can be adapted for other SDG-aligned projects, enabling more Catalyst and community-led initiatives to build trusted, verifiable outcomes.
• New utility for Cardano native tokens – Impact Project Tokens extend the use of Cardano assets beyond financial speculation, showing their potential for immutable attribution and results tracking.
• On-chain activity and visibility – Every proof and token minted creates verifiable transactions, contributing to on-chain engagement and public transparency.
• Partnership pathways – By working with funders, MSMEs, and communities in East Africa, we open opportunities for the Cardano ecosystem to support projects in emerging markets where blockchain can directly solve real problems.

The pilot will produce a working example of Cardano’s unique value in combining decentralised verification, tamper-proof reporting, and tokenised attribution. This can serve as a blueprint for other Catalyst projects and help position Cardano as the go-to blockchain for credible, measurable impact.

[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 ClimaFI team brings decades of experience working with MSMEs across Kenya and the broader African continent, designing and delivering innovative solutions that attract impact investment and expand financing options for local enterprises.

We have an active partnership with Agsol, a leading manufacturer and distributor of solar-powered agro-mills in Kenya. Together, we have already piloted a financing model and IoT data collection system—providing a proven foundation for the first deployment of ClimaFI’s impact authenticity and attribution tools.

We also work with Vaka Consulting, a Web3 software studio with deep Cardano expertise and a track record of successful Catalyst delivery. Vaka Consulting leads the tokenisation and data verification development for ClimaFI, co-developing the open KPI protocol and user dashboard. Their prior Catalyst work (e.g. https://milestones.projectcatalyst.io/projects/1100122) demonstrates their ability to deliver complex blockchain solutions that generate value for the Cardano community.

To enhance scalability and trust, we are developing additional relationships with technology providers and monitoring and evaluation experts who can strengthen data validation methods.

The pilot’s outputs will be presented to the UK government’s international development department, FCDO. FCDO is funding the Energy Catalyst window of Innovate UK, who have provided a grant to pilot the sale of Agsol mills on credit through their distribution partners. Innovate UK will be presented with the pilot data to solicit feedback from FCDO about our approach of combining authentic reported impact, verified via on-chain proofs through Impact Project Tokens, based on the success of their grant funded project.

Furthermore, CLASP - an NGO with a significant history operating results based finance programs for milling, pumping and cooling, including Agsol - will be presented with the outputs to further validate the solution and prepare for market scale up.

This combination of proven field deployment, technical delivery expertise, and committed pilot funding ensures that the project can be executed with high trust, accountability, and measurable results.

[Milestones] Project Milestones

Milestone Title

Pilot Setup & Technical Design

Milestone Outputs

• Agreed pilot scope and delivery plan with partners.
• Finalised technical architecture for blockchain proof publishing, token issuance, and data integration.

#####################################

Acceptance Criteria

• All stakeholders approve pilot scope and roles.
• Architecture document includes data flow diagrams, blockchain integration points, and security considerations.

#####################################

Evidence of Completion

• Signed agreement and delivery plan documents.
• Published and technical architecture document in project repository.

Delivery Month

1

Cost

13500

Milestone Title

Platform Development & Integration

Milestone Outputs

• Extended ClimaFI platform to publish cryptographic hashes of impact reports to Cardano.
• Token issuance module developed, with metadata including project ID, SDG targets, timestamp, and contribution details.
• Integration of IoT, financial, and social data feeds from Agsol’s pilot assets.
• Anomaly detection and validation tools operational.

Acceptance Criteria

• Successful test transactions of report proofs to Cardano.
• Tokens minted with correct metadata in testnet environment.
• Data feeds connected and anomalies flagged in pilot dataset.

#####################################

Evidence of Completion

• Testnet transaction IDs for report proofs and tokens.
• Screenshots or logs showing connected data feeds and validation alerts.

Delivery Month

3

Cost

38500

Milestone Title

MVP Deployment & Pilot Operation

Milestone Outputs

• MVP live with first production on-chain proof and Impact Project Tokens issued.
• Active monitoring of data flows and reporting during pilot operation.
• Feedback collected from partners.

#####################################

Acceptance Criteria

• On-chain proof and tokens visible on Cardano mainnet.
• Verified end-to-end data flow from asset to proof publication.
• Documented stakeholder feedback for iteration.

#####################################

Evidence of Completion

• Mainnet transaction IDs for first proof and tokens.
• Screenshots of dashboard displaying live proof verification.
• Feedback summary document.

Delivery Month

5

Cost

27500

Milestone Title

Final Evaluation & Community Demonstration

Milestone Outputs

• Final pilot report including all on-chain proofs, token data, and key performance metrics.
• Demonstration material for Catalyst community (guided video walkthrough or restricted-access dashboard).
• Lessons learned and recommendations for scaling to other Cardano projects.

Acceptance Criteria

• Report publicly available and linked to verifiable blockchain records.
• Demonstration material accessible to Catalyst reviewers/community.
• Documented recommendations for future implementations.

#####################################

Evidence of Completion

• Public link to final report and demonstration material.
• List of all proof transaction IDs and token metadata on Cardano.

Delivery Month

6

Cost

13500

[Final Pitch] Budget & Costs

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

The total requested budget is 93,000 ada, allocated across four milestones and resourcing categories to ensure transparency and delivery accountability.

Milestone Allocation

Milestone Description Cost (ada)

1 Pilot Setup & Technical Design 13,500

2 Platform Development & Integration 38,500

3 MVP Deployment & Pilot Operation 27,500

4 Final Evaluation & Community Demonstration 13,500

Total 93,000

----------------------------

Resource Allocation

Resource Role in Project Cost (ada)

Blockchain Development Smart contract/token module, on-chain proof publishing 27,000

Platform Engineering Data feed integration, anomaly detection, dashboard updates 22,000

Data Analysis & Validation Verification workflows, anomaly checks, SDG mapping 12,000

Project Management & Coordination Stakeholder management, timeline control, reporting. 16,000

Pilot Operations Asset setup, IoT feed configuration, operational monitoring 8,500

Reporting & Community Outputs Final reports, demonstration video/dashboard, recommendations. 7,500

Total 93,000

----------------------------

Cost justification:

• The largest share of the budget is dedicated to development (~60% combined for blockchain and platform engineering), reflecting the technical complexity of building on-chain proof and token modules, and integrating real-time IoT and financial data streams.
• Operational costs include configuring Agsol’s pilot assets and managing data flows during the pilot period.
• Project management ensures milestones are delivered on time, stakeholders remain aligned, and reporting meets Catalyst standards.
• Community-facing outputs ensure that the wider Cardano ecosystem can benefit from the knowledge, architecture, and learnings from the pilot.

[Final Pitch] Value for Money

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

This project delivers high value to the Cardano ecosystem by producing a live, replicable example of blockchain-based verification and attribution for real-world impact projects. The budget is tightly aligned to deliverables, with payments tied to milestone completion and evidence, ensuring accountability and transparency.

Key value points:

• Direct ecosystem utility – The architecture, token model, and verification process developed in this pilot can be adapted by other Catalyst projects and Cardano community initiatives, amplifying the impact of the initial investment.
• Efficient delivery – By building on the existing ClimaFI Impact Data Platform and established partnerships with Agsol and Vaka Consulting, development timelines are shortened and costs reduced, avoiding the need to build systems from scratch.
• Targeted resource use – The majority of funds are allocated to blockchain integration, platform engineering, and operational deployment—directly producing on-chain activity and demonstrable functionality.
• Catalyst visibility – The pilot’s on-chain proofs and token transactions will be publicly verifiable, providing transparent evidence of delivery and ongoing use.
• Potential for scale through existing clients – Beyond the pilot, ClimaFI can offer the same solution to other clients seeking verified, tokenised impact attribution, including an eBike distributor already capable of integrating operational data from over one thousand units. This creates immediate opportunities for broader deployment, increased on-chain activity, and expanded use of Cardano native tokens.

By combining proven field partners, experienced blockchain delivery, and a clear path to community benefit and scaling, this proposal represents an efficient and strategic investment in expanding Cardano’s role in credible, measurable impact reporting.

[Required Acknowledgements] Consent & Confirmation

Terms and Conditions:

Yes