Grow Africa, Grow Cardano
It's no secret that Cardano is recognized as a blockchain with a strong focus on Africa, and formally stated as such in Cardano's strategic goals. However, as other blockchain protocols recognize the potential of crypto in Africa, without concrete sustained action, Cardano risks losing a potential $1 trillion in market share of the African market to other blockchains within the next 3 years.
- Africa's crypto market has grown by $105 billion in the last year (2020-2021). Africa is the next crypto frontier- World Economic Forum
- Alameda Research, Coinbase Ventures, Cadenza, CMT Digital, Distributed Global, GSR, Third Prime and Avon Ventures: African Crypto Exchange VALR Raises $50M in Series B Led by Pantera Capital: https://www.coindesk.com/business/2022/03/01/african-crypto-exchange-valr-raises-50m-in-series-b-led-by-pantera-capital/
In Catalyst Fund7 the combined Africa funded projects amount was almost negligible compared to those from western and developed economies. https://twitter.com/danny_cryptofay/status/1496078645319933954?s=20&t=Ohr06EIZW05vz_B4Fjk_JA
This needs to be reversed through intentional action. Otherwise smaller and smaller portions of Catalyst funding will continue to be allocated to projects focused on African and other emerging economies due to endemic barriers.
"Having a funding round that focuses on Africa is a win, win, win scenario. Africa wins by getting some backing. Commercial projects that are already building up in Africa win, because they get the signal of support from our community. Cardano holders win when there is an encouraging environment for mass adoption anywhere. Focusing on Africa is a strategy that has often been promoted and is openly pursued by IOG and Charles Hoskinson. The ROI is likely to be high because community sponsored projects are better run in young and developing economies." Greg Bell; (originator of the Grow Cardano series)
Why is it important?
We need to look at the fundamentals that are preventing Africa from being a Cardano adoption leader, rather than a perpetual follower.
How does success looks like?
Practical innovations offered on tackling the unique challenges faced by the continent. A clear roadmap that points to increased adoption.
Key Metrics to measure
- Number of proposals addressing the fundamental issues preventing Cardano adoption in Africa
- Number of proposals offering solutions to infrastructure and education concerns
- Number of new Africa-based users onboarded onto Cardano (wallets, platform sign-ups)
- Number of new Africa-based Catalyst members (proposers, voters, CAs)
- Number of new African projects seeded in 2022
- Number of African developers onboarded in 2022
- Local impact (measurable through user activity and reach)
- Local partnerships formed (size of institution + influence)
Inspiring Ladies Colloquim
Solution: Organize educational events in universities in Ghana and invite speakers to educate ladies on the Cardano blockchain and its benefits.
Immunify.life HIV clinical Study
Solution: The solution rewards patients to comply with best practice treatment. The cryptocurrency rewards can be converted through our patient App and used to purchase everyday essentials.
HIre ArtSuite Coordinator in Africa
Solution: The Art Suite has a proven concept of Artist Agents who onboard artists onto our platform.
We wish to employ an "Artist Agent Coordinator" in Africa to create a network in min. 10 African countries.
Healthcare Providers Onboarding Quick Pitch
Solution: Hippocrades has already built healthcare solutions for clinics and doctors (part of the Catalyst funding). We'll raise awareness and provide onboarding guidelines and tutorials in the African region.
Hackathon and Internship Program
Solution: Through the program, we would expose Cardano and the blockchain ecosystem more to the larger market, and have our student developers build smart contract solutions for some of these local businesses.
Growing The African Tertiary Sector
Solution: Diversify the Cardano and Project Catalyst adoption rates in the African tertiary sector through a series of online workshops for university students, developers, and instructors.
Ghana Youth Onboarding Outreach 2
Solution: Organize outreach programs to safely onboard more youth with ideas who can submit proposals that can bring employment and real life change in their lives. Two months' workshop to be organized.
Gateway of blockchain-Learn to earn
Solution: Develop an incentivized learning platform that reward participants for learning blockchain and for learning the various concepts within the Cardano ecosystem.
Eon Brands!
Solution: Eon Brands will utilise the Cardano blockchain to mint smart NFTs that will be used to prove ownership of our newest collection, Eon Wears.
Enabling microgrid transactions
Solution: Surplusmap.com locates surplus energy and connects power producers and power consumers. Micro-production of electricity can be accurately paid for using cNFTs and smart contracts maximising output.
Empowering African Farmers with NFT
Solution: A Free Farmer GEO NFT Creator App on a smartphone.
Farmer signs Crop with E-ID with all Farmer / Harvest data & photos. Web-published
Added value for farmer, Geo-traced crop is sold for more money
Employment Credentials in Tanzania
Solution: We test the feasibility of our solution to issue and verify credentials for a better recruitment market in Tanzania and Zanzibar and form a deployment plan. We'll also publish a report of our findings
EDUCATE SENEGAL INNOVATORS - DI/FI
Solution: Africa Grain is an acceleration and communications program to support youth regenerative entrepreneurs on the Continent through mentoring and impact investments, and using innovation and amplification
EcoCashew.com & partnerships
Solution: Build partnerships, list CashewF, a Cardano Native Token, on a platform & create awareness using marketing tools, AMA, as suggested by the launching platform.
East Africa Cardano Innovation Hub
Solution: A Hub designed for collaboration; to allow people to share experiences, learn from one another and outsource or seek talent.
Dripada: Nigeria’s Cardano Hub
Solution: Dripada will be a Cardano focused Grassroot Community Hub that will play a great role in the enlightenment and foster greater adoption of Cardano in Nigeria through meetups and learn to earn programs.
DegaFund crowd fundraising system
Solution: DegaFund will be a blockchain-based crowdfunding platform accessible to African beneficiaries and donors from all over the world having identity verification of beneficiaries to prevent fraud.
Decentralize Impact
Solution: Our solution is to provide a platform of like minded people who are eager to build, and solve problems in innovative ways. The governance of this program is fully decentralized & community driven.
Cryptocurrency Exchange
Solution: Ennarea Exchange will enable Most African countries to buy and sell ADA with their native fiat currency. and It will provide Cardano-based blockchain startups an exchange service to list their tokens.
Crypto and blockchain adoption
Solution: We have built an exchange that accepts payment by mobile money, a blockchain-based e-learning platform, an investment tracking tool and other ongoing development according to our roadmap.
COP27 Elevating African Leadership
Solution: Global online event during COP27 to network diverse leaders, including Cardano to unlock climate solutions and build practical innovations that tackle challenges that Africa and Global South face.
Cooperative dApp
Solution: We are looking to develop a payment dApp for cooperatives & NGO's in Africa, with a transparent payment system where transactions only goes trough when accepted by other members in the cooperative.
COMPLETE African Artist On-Boarding
Solution: We are going to expand our current on-boarding efforts to include needs we've discovered during our current on-boarding efforts. This includes wallet setup, funding wallet, and minting artist's work.
Catalyst Resources in WaZoBia
Solution: By translating Catalyst resources into the three main languages spoken in Nigeria which are Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo (WaZoBia), we intend to educate, enlighten and elevate the status of people.