Planting Roots In Africa

Purpose of the Project Proposal

Responding to the immense opportunities West Africa presents for Cardano blockchain adoption and the continent's well-documented barriers to adoption of cutting edge digital solutions, the proposers of this project, West Africa Decentralized Alliance (WADA), seek to start entrenching Cardano's cutting-edge solutions in the West Africa sub region.
Our aim is to accelerate the creation of dapps and attract new developers into the Cardano ecosystem who are attuned to solving local problems.

Our alliance have identified four areas of focus that would help the best ground solutions to emerge:
- Infrastructure (main purpose of this proposal)
- Education
- Development
- Outreach

By supporting and developing these activities, WADA will, thanks to its role as link between people and initiatives, help to simplify and boost the creation and deployment of innovative solutions in all West African countries.

Infrastructure

As with the Cardano ecosystem in general, in Africa there are parallel threads that need to be working simultaneously. First and foremost among them are the basic infrastructure needs that many in the western world take for granted, but are often things that African localities do not commonly have available at a level that will support the development of such a highly technical ecosystem.
Internet access that will support inter-hub and international cyber-meetings as well as stake-pool operations is something that must be pursued and acquired. Electrical supply with UPS integration and backup generators is also something that must be secured as local power companies are often subject to brownouts/blackouts.
In addition to those basic needs are also the hardware required to support developers, teachers, students and the associated community outreach each hub is planning.

The following list in details what should be standard equipment and services for our community hubs:
- Facility – (Rental / Maint.)
- Power – (Equipment/Installations/Rental/Fuel/Maintenance)
- Internet – (adequate for world communication and stake pool operation)
- Networks – (Equipment/Installations/Rental/Subscription)
- Insurance - (Safety / Fire / Hazards)
- Workstations connected to screens for classes, printers, etc.
- Desks, tables, chairs

The funds requested for the support of the hubs (investment costs + 3 months recurring costs) will be administered by WADA and will be made available to the individual hubs according to a phased deployment plan designed to bring all hubs to the same functionality simultaneously. Partner hubs are people with whom we have developed a relationship over the last few months and with whom we share the same goals.

Budget: 125 695$

(Detailed budget in attached documents)

Implementation roadmap/Success Indicators

Significant Cardano market expansion in all current and future WADA-active countries through solutions design/ dApp creation, education & outreach, and continuous capacity/capability building. WADA will have a network of hubs or centers in sub-Saharan Africa connected locally, nationally and globally to Cardano and the digital world economy :

• 1-3 months post funding
Seven local fit- for-purpose physical spaces acquired throughout West and Central Africa with internet access, stable electricity, and computers

• 4-6 months post funding
The local hubs/centres are up and running under competent leadership. Each hub is uniquely delivering according to the needs and opportunities of their communities. Organizing recurring events, education in functional programming and blockchain technology (for all ages) and community outreach and events.

• 6 months to one year
- Hubs are fully functional and specialized to serve local and national needs
- Hubs are networked with other international hubs to leverage each other's strengths, share learning, and increase accountability.
- All WADA planned activities to expand Cardano's market in sub-Saharan Africa such as government and academic outreach, dApp creations/business solutions, and creative enterprises in full implementation
- Collaborative projects with other projects in the Cardano ecosystem are being executed seamlessly on the ground.

Risk assessment

As part of our risk assessment process, we identified 3 main areas that require specific attention :
- 1. Legalization: some African administrations are strong in harassing new businesses.
- 2. Coordination/standards.
- 3. Cost over-run.

The possible risk management solutions:

1. Legalization:
- Obtain a legal document from which the WADA hubs would be operating. With numerous trade agreements overlapping, a copy of this document can be used for operations anywhere.
- Set up new hubs in existing offices or close to a partner developer's office. This would not only give legitimacy in the eyes of potential users, but government officials will not easily distinguish the new business as it will be collaborating with the established one.
- Crypto currencies are unregulated in many countries, WADA will ensure adherence to local regulation to any extent possible

2. Coordination/standards:
- Issue standards common to each partner hubs.
- Hire the services of local lawyers. Laws in many African countries are relatively similar with standards such as OHADA (Organisation for the Harmonisation of Corporate Law in Africa).
- Identification stickers to put on all material goods so as to establish ownership. A shared logo, paint and color themes can help ensure the motivation of participants who need to not only see themselves as members of one small hub but members of one large network. These standards will be visually visible through video calls.
- The coordinating team must be physically aware of the experience on the ground. At least a visit mid-project to each hub. Ideally, the same person/team would visit all hubs to establish a common assessment.

3. Cost over-runs
- Starting a new business/office has unexpected costs. This needs to be taken into account.
- Additional to forming new hubs, also find an established business dealing with programming and digital products to partner with.
- Actors would need to be compensated. For example, the coordination team. But also, the "lead" of each hub, even if it is a business owner. These costs can be symbolic and need not cover the full extend of their involvement as they are either already interested or employed. This will ensure that their keep their focus on the hub.
- To ensure functionality, cost items must be arranged in order of priority. We do not want to have bought laptops and printers only to find that there is no money for the office. Ideally, the ranking will ensure that the office can maintain some level of functionality.

Launching time: Q2 2021

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In addition to the elements related to infrastructure, WADA will also continue to work on the other pillars identified by the community:
- Education
- Development
- Outreach

More information on our education, development, outreach goals and hubs leads can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NaGdNkWo-n-yCBKBmu0_LL0Q5Ca_gedoWXB7xEq2v80/edit?usp=sharing

Collaboration with other projects

• https://cardano.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Local-Centers-in-West-Africa/340029-48088
• https://cardano.ideascale.com/a/dtd/No-Code-For-Creative-Africa/351502-48088
• https://cardano.ideascale.com/a/dtd/The-Indigenous-Source/352747-48088
• https://cardano.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Devs-for-Awarenes-Event-West-Africa/350652-48088