M4W: Biodiversity Data Capture & On-Chain Storage

[Proposal setup] Proposal title

Please provide your proposal title

M4W: Biodiversity Data Capture & On-Chain Storage

[Proposal Summary] Budget Information

Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA

92000

[Proposal Summary] Time

Please specify how many months you expect your project to last

9

[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?

Biodiversity data is scattered, inconsistent, and often unverifiable. NGOs & auditors lack trusted systems to validate ecological data, undermining reporting, accountability, and sustainability goals

[Proposal Summary] Supporting Documentation

Supporting links

• https://madeforawoman.shop/pages/about
,
• https://wfto.com/member/made-for-a-woman
,
• https://www.certilogo.com/stories/made-for-a-woman
,
• https://moduscreate.com

[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

The project will be partially open sourced. The project’s methodology, metadata schema, and integration steps for the data collection tool will be documented and published for adaptation by other organisations. Any custom code developed that can be shared without violating partner licensing will be released under the MIT License. Sensitive operational data and third-party components will remain proprietary.

[Theme Selection] Theme

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

Environment

[Campaign Category] Category Questions

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

This project introduces a reusable, ecosystem‑agnostic biodiversity schema and

pipeline anchored on Cardano. It begins with raffia and Madagascar as a pilot, but is designed to be extensible across regions and indicators. Unlike prior supply‑chain pilots, it focuses on scientific data and creates common infrastructure that NGOs, auditors, and researchers can adopt broadly, reducing costs and fragmentation.

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

The MVP will show end‑to‑end ingestion of pilot biodiversity datasets, validation

against the schema, anchoring of proof records on Cardano, and retrieval through a public API. It will be accessible on Cardano testnet for partners, supplemented by a public demo video that walks through the process, and an open methodology package containing schema and integration guidance.

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

Success will be measured by at least twenty biodiversity datasets ingested and

anchored on‑chain, a minimum of thirty API queries executed by NGO testers, and a Final Report that documents adoption feedback, summarizes technical

performance, and provides verifiable evidence such as transaction hashes, API logs, and repository links.

[Your Project and Solution] Solution

Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem

Environmental monitoring today suffers from fragmented data: ranger notes, NGO spreadsheets, academic surveys, and satellite images often sit in silos without common standards. This makes it difficult to prove biodiversity outcomes and undermines trust between field teams, funders, and auditors. Because biodiversity data is scattered, inconsistent, and unverifiable, our project proposes a feasibility test to prototype and validate a Cardano-anchored biodiversity pipeline in the Malagasy context.

Made For A Woman (M4W) has built deep relationships with raffia cultivators and artisans across Madagascar, a country whose fragile ecosystems face direct pressure from deforestation and climate change. While M4W began by tracing raffia supply chains for ethical fashion, the team quickly realized that biodiversity indicators —from forest cover to soil health — were equally essential to protect both community livelihoods and ecological resilience. Anchoring biodiversity data on Cardano provides verifiable, tamper-proof records, reducing reliance on internal reporting and

giving credibility with funders and policymakers.

Step-by-step workflow

• Identify biodiversity indicators (species presence, replanting metrics, soil and water health) with local stakeholders.
• Capture datasets from field surveys and satellite imagery.
• Structure data into standardized schemas for consistency.
• Anchor proofs immutably on Cardano for transparency.
• Provide retrieval through a public API so NGOs and auditors can

independently validate results.

Who is engaged:

Workshops in Madagascar will bring together raffia cultivators, NGO staff, and

technical experts to co-design the schema and workflows. Partners will test

ingestion and retrieval, while M4W provides field legitimacy and Modus Create

ensures blockchain delivery.

Why it’s unique:

Unlike prior supply-chain pilots that focus on compliance, this project creates

reusable scientific infrastructure for biodiversity accountability. It introduces a

biodiversity schema and API pipeline anchored on Cardano, designed to be

extensible across regions and indicators. By starting with raffia and Madagascar as the pilot, it establishes a foundation for replication internationally.

[Your Project and Solution] Impact

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

This project will expand Cardano’s role into sustainability and biodiversity. By piloting in Madagascar with raffia‑linked ecosystems, the feasibility test demonstrates how blockchain can validate and secure biodiversity data at the source.

Ecosystem Benefits

• Demonstrates Cardano’s capacity for verifiable environmental monitoring.
• Introduces NGOs and field partners as new on‑chain users.
• Creates open schema and API tools that reduce startup costs for similar

initiatives.

• Strengthens Cardano’s narrative as a blockchain for social and ecological

good.

Strategic Value

• Builds a tested foundation for broader deployments across Madagascar and beyond, with this feasibility phase explicitly focused on validation before any production-scale rollouts.
• Provides an independently verifiable pilot that can de‑risk larger projects.

Encourages collaborations between blockchain developers, NGOs, and local

communities.

• Gives field teams credibility with funders and policy makers through immutable records.

Strategic Value

• Builds a tested foundation for future production-ready deployments in raffia and other value chains.
• Encourages collaboration between blockchain developers and local

communities in emerging markets.

• Provides a success story for Catalyst: a lean, well-defined pilot that de-risks

larger future investments.

[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?

Made For A Woman (M4W)

Made For A Woman (M4W), a Madagascar-based for-profit social enterprise founded in 2019, is redefining the paradigms of the global fashion industry by championing radical transparency, sustainability, and authentic storytelling. Built on a 360-degree model that integrates traceability, social impact, and craftsmanship, M4W demonstrates that fashion can simultaneously embody beauty, responsibility, and empowerment.

We work with over 750 artisans, primarily women from vulnerable communities, and directly impact the lives of more than 3,000 people through stable employment, holistic support, and community development initiatives. By prioritizing ethical production and environmental responsibility, we not only preserve traditional know-how but also create pathways to autonomy, dignity, and long-term resilience for our artisans.

Our unique approach has positioned us as a trusted partner for some of the world’s leading luxury houses, including brands from the LVMH, Kering, and Richemont groups such as Chloé and Fendi. Each handcrafted piece we produce is more than a fashion accessory—it is a story of empowerment, heritage, and the possibility of a fashion system rooted in equity and sustainability.

Modus Create

Modus Create has been tackling tough engineering challenges since 2013 and contributing to the Cardano ecosystem since 2018, leading work in security audits, protocol design, consensus evolution, and core ledger systems. The

company’s team has delivered foundational improvements to the network while

maintaining a focus on open collaboration, technical rigor, and solutions that serve the broader community. This hands-on experience in one of the world’s most innovative blockchain ecosystems has shaped Modus Create’s approach to solving complex problems and delivering sustainable, production-grade results.

A global product engineering and consulting firm partnered with Atlassian, AWS, and GitHub, Modus Create combines high-level strategy with deep technical execution. Its expertise spans blockchain integration, NFT platforms, tokenization frameworks, wallet solutions, and smart contract-enabled applications for both enterprise and public networks. Beyond blockchain, the company has developed advanced geospatial mapping tools that integrate GIS data into accessible, interactive applications, and delivered solutions across finance, environmental conservation, and digital commerce. Whether modernizing legacy systems, launching Web3 products, or designing mission-critical infrastructure, Modus Create helps organizations and ecosystems like Cardano reach their full potential.

[Milestones] Project Milestones

Milestone Title

Discovery, Schema Design & Scoping (Months 1–3)

Milestone Outputs

This milestone lays the groundwork for the feasibility test. We will organize joint workshops in Madagascar with raffia cultivators, NGO staff, and technical experts. The objective will be to identify biodiversity indicators that matter most locally, such as species presence and abundance, replanting metrics, and soil and water health.

These sessions will also uncover practical constraints including offline connectivity, training gaps, and terminology differences. Modus Create will lead schema co‑design and produce draft version 0.1 with clearly defined required and optional fields.

Annotated mockups will illustrate each workflow step in detail: uploading a survey or satellite input, validation checks, blockchain anchoring, and public API query. A governance brief will codify decision authority, approval steps, branding rules, and translation requirements to ensure cultural accuracy. The milestone will conclude with a signed roadmap and backlog that provides explicit timelines, dependencies, and a risk register with mitigation strategies. By the end of this stage, scattered biodiversity inputs will have been transformed into a structured system anchored on Cardano, demonstrating feasibility in the Malagasy raffia context.

Outputs:

1. Draft schema v0.1 with required and optional fields.
2. Annotated workflow mockups covering ingestion, validation, anchoring, and retrieval.
3. Governance brief describing roles, approvals, branding, and translation

processes.

Acceptance Criteria

1. The schema must cover at least three ecological categories including species, replanting, and soil/water metrics, and must be validated by both technical and field stakeholders.
2. All workflow mockups must be fully reviewed and formally approved in writing by both M4W and Modus Create, ensuring no gaps in the workflows.
3. The governance brief must be signed by stakeholders and must include clear decision authority, approval processes, and validated translations into Malagasy and French.

Evidence of Completion

1. Link to a PDF.
2. Link to a PDF.
3. Link to a PDF.

All three links must be active and accessible.

Notes: Documents and links will be hosted on a public Notion page. We may additionally consider providing the evidence in other mediums to facilitate milestone reviewer access, but this shall not be the basis of a milestone rejection unless the reviewer is unable to access the page.

Delivery Month

3

Cost

17000

Progress

30 %

Milestone Title

Prototype Development & Testnet Anchoring (Months 4–6)

Milestone Outputs

This milestone builds the first working version of the biodiversity pipeline.

Engineering tasks will include developing ingestion modules for field CSV/JSON

uploads, a connector to pull satellite imagery and indices, schema validation routines with error messaging, and proof packaging. Cardano testnet anchoring will demonstrate immutability, while retrieval endpoints and API documentation will ensure that the data is accessible to users. At least one real dataset from raffia-linked ecosystems will be ingested and fully anchored. A demonstration entry will also be anchored on mainnet with test payloads to show readiness. Low-connectivity simulations will test robustness in rural Madagascar. Documentation will describe architecture, data flow, and system usage. By the end of this stage, the team will have proven that end-to-end ingestion, validation, anchoring, and retrieval can work reliably.

Outputs:

1. A fully functional prototype of the biodiversity pipeline deployed on Cardano
2. One complete dataset from raffia-linked ecosystems ingested, validated, and anchored on-chain.
3. Comprehensive API documentation describing endpoints, authentication, and sample queries.

Acceptance Criteria

1. The prototype must demonstrate a complete workflow from ingestion through to anchoring and retrieval, with supporting logs, screenshots, and transaction hashes provided as evidence.
2. At least one mainnet demonstration record must be successfully created using non-sensitive test payloads (e.g., sample ecological indicators and metadata). The record will include project ID, metadata, timestamp, geotag, and IPFS hash.
3. API queries must return structured biodiversity data that is fully compliant with the schema designed in Milestone #1.

Evidence of Completion

1. Link to a private YouTube video.
2. Link to a PDF.
3. Link to a PDF.

All three links must be active and accessible

Notes: Documents and links will be hosted on a public Notion page. We may

additionally consider providing the evidence in other mediums to facilitate

milestone reviewer access, but this shall not be the basis of a milestone

rejection unless the reviewer is unable to access the page.

Delivery Month

6

Cost

46500

Progress

60 %

Milestone Title

Milestone #3 - Field Adoption & Usability Testing (Months 6-8)

Milestone Outputs

At this stage, adoption and usability will be tested in practice. We will onboard at least two NGO partners with bilingual training packages that include detailed PDF guides and short device‑friendly videos. These partners will practice submitting

biodiversity records and retrieving results through the API independently, without direct technical support. Usage will be monitored to confirm that the pipeline can be operated by non‑technical field organizations. Structured feedback on usability,

clarity of outputs, and any barriers encountered will be collected and documented in a Partner Test Report. This process will highlight refinements required for wider deployment. A limited public API release will also be made available to demonstrate

transparency and allow read‑only exploration by the broader Cardano community. By the end of this milestone, the pipeline should be proven not just technically functional but also practical and adoptable.

Outputs:

1. Bilingual training package including detailed PDF guides and short instructional videos.
2. Partner Test Report capturing structured feedback, adoption observations, and prioritized recommendations.
3. A limited public API release allowing controlled read‑only access for demonstration purposes.

Acceptance Criteria

1. Two NGO partners complete onboarding and confirm in writing that they can access the system and understand the ingestion and retrieval workflows.
2. Each partner successfully performs at least one ingestion and one retrieval action, evidenced by timestamped logs or screenshots captured during the testing window.
3. The Partner Test Report is delivered and acknowledged by project stakeholders and includes clearly prioritized recommendations for improvements and next‑step actions.

Evidence of Completion

1. Link to a PDF.

2. Link to a PDF.

3. Link to a PDF.

Notes: Documents and links will be hosted on a public Notion page. We may additionally consider providing the evidence in other mediums to facilitate milestone reviewer access, but this shall not be the basis of a milestone rejection unless the reviewer is unable to access the page.

Delivery Month

8

Cost

16500

Progress

90 %

Milestone Title

Open‑Source Package & Final Close‑Out (Month 9)

Milestone Outputs

The final milestone consolidates the feasibility results and ensures replicability. We will release an open‑source package containing schema v1.0, methodology notes, ingestion/validation guides, API reference, annotated screenshots, and license terms. The Final Close‑Out Report will summarize outputs against milestones, partner adoption results, issues resolved, and provide a roadmap for scaling (e.g., integration

with live field apps, additional indicator categories). A public demo video will visually walk through the entire workflow — from data entry in Madagascar to on‑chain verification and retrieval. This milestone guarantees transparency and delivers a complete package for future adopters.

Outputs:

1. An open‑source methodology package including schema v1.0, ingestion/validation guides, API reference, and license file.
2. A Final Close‑Out Report summarizing results against criteria, usage observations, and a scaling roadmap.
3. A public demo video that demonstrates the end‑to‑end workflow using non‑sensitive data.

Acceptance Criteria

The open-source package includes methodology, metadata schema, workflow diagrams, detailed documentation, integration steps, and as well as license file that will enable reuse, adaptation, and scalability.

Evidence of Completion

1. Link to public GitHub repository or downloadable package.
2. Link to a PDF.
3. Link to a private YouTube video.

Notes: Documents and links will be hosted on a public Notion page. We may additionally consider providing the evidence in other mediums to facilitate milestone reviewer access, but this shall not be the basis of a milestone rejection unless the reviewer is unable to access the page.

Delivery Month

9

Cost

12000

Progress

100 %

[Final Pitch] Budget & Costs

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Milestone 1 (Months 1–3): ₳17,000

• M4W: ₳9,500 — Organizing workshops in Madagascar, stakeholder engagement, governance drafting, translation, and coordination with local partners.
• Modus Create: ₳7,500 — Schema v0.1 design, workflow mockups, technical architecture planning.

Milestone 2 (Months 4–6): ₳46,500

• M4W: ₳20,000 — Preparation of biodiversity datasets from raffia-linked ecosystems, logistical support for pilot data gathering, partner communication, and coordination.
• Modus Create: ₳26,500 — Development of ingestion modules, schema validation routines, proof packaging, Cardano testnet deployment, mainnet demo record, and API documentation.

Milestone 3 (Months 7–8): ₳16,500

• M4W: ₳10,000 — Delivery of bilingual training materials (PDFs and videos), coordination of NGO onboarding sessions, and collection of partner feedback.
• Modus Create: ₳6,500 — Technical support for API usage, monitoring of test queries, adjustments based on feedback, and implementation of limited public API release.

Milestone 4 (Month 9): ₳12,000

M4W: ₳6,000 — Compilation of the Final Close-Out Report, communication with stakeholders, and dissemination of results.

• Modus Create: ₳6,000 — Preparation of open-source package, final documentation, and production of demo video.

Total Budget: ₳92,000

Rates align with industry norms: $80–$120/hr for general development, $150–$200/hr for Cardano-specific blockchain work, and competitive professional rates for local project management and field coordination in Madagascar.

[Final Pitch] Value for Money

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

For ₳92,000, Cardano gains a tested feasibility model for biodiversity reporting: a schema, a functioning prototype, partner feedback, and an open methodology package. By anchoring raffia‑linked biodiversity data from Madagascar and demonstrating NGO adoption, the project establishes a trusted blueprint for scaling environmental accountability. This positions Cardano as a leader in blockchain‑for‑good, extending its reach into sustainability and biodiversity monitoring.

[Required Acknowledgements] Consent & Confirmation

Terms and Conditions:

Yes