Expand Access to Extend Cardano

Without support, electricity and internet accessibility challenges will hamstring Cardano's overall potential and goal to bank the unbanked

Create well resourced Community Centres in local communities targeted at solving local problems on Cardano to expand Cardano's market

The on the ground metrics to ensure this challenge is delivered on

• Number of hubs/community centres with back-up and stable power supply with high-speed internet access, designed to maintain a stake pool operation
• Number of hubs/community centres with space and equipment for classes and work
• Number of new community members onboarded (e.g. devs, enterprises, thought leaders etc.)
• Feedback on progress from successful proposals regardless of failure or success
• Novelty and appropriateness of solutions (hard to quantify, easy to see)
• Proposals should come from countries with 50% or less internet penetration.

Rationale for Budget

This challenge anticipates an average budget of $35k space, equipment and operating costs  per funding round in 10 locations.

This challenge is targeted at continents such as Africa with huge potential to adopt Cardano but faced with barriers like sub par electricity provision and limited internet penetration.

For projects in Africa and similar communities to start building on Cardano, the issue of accessibility needs to be addressed.

Foremost among them are the basic infrastructure needs that many in the western world take for granted, but are often things that some communities in other parts of the world do not commonly have available at a level that will support integration and development of such a highly technical blockchain ecosystem. 

• Electrical supply with UPS integration and backup generators is something that must be secured as local power companies are frequently subject to brownouts/blackouts.
• Internet accessibility that will support inter-hub and international cyber-meetings as well as stake-pool operations is something that must be pursued and acquired.

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.

How this challenge addresses the problem

The issue of access is already a well articulated problem. Governments and private entities like World Mobile are hard at work building infrastructure.

This challenge will therefore look for local implementors to acquire, equip and resource local community centres/hubs where communities can be mobilized to solve problems on Cardano

Challenge amounts should only be proposed in increments of $25K. Other amounts not in these increments will be rounded up. E.g. $27,500 will be rounded up to $50,000.