[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.
I. Project Overview. Introducing Wada
- Plutus PBL Expansion and Localization for African Youth
II. Problem Statement
- Untapped youth potential in African markets due to fragmented markets and information opacity
III. Our Unique Approach
- Harness the potential of Plutus PBL and Wada hubs to equip African youth with web3 development skills
- Leverage Wada's established community network, infrastructure, and partnerships
IV. Target
- African youth: High school and university graduates, IT developers transitioning to web3
- Wada community hubs members
V. Impact
- Track participation and successful completion of Plutus PBL across Wada hubs
- Monitor the development of local market influencers and the evolution of retail access in African markets
- Evaluate the reduction of investment risks due to increased transparency
VI. Importance to Cardano
- Harnessing the potential of Cardano's Plutus platform to train a new generation of developers
- Creating more use cases and user bases for Cardano within African markets
- Contribute to Cardano's vision for a more equitable, accessible, and decentralized future
VII. Unique Aspects
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Integrates Plutus PBL with Wada's decentralizing community hubs
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Focus on localizing content to fit the African context
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Aims to cultivate local market influencers to drive economic growth
[IMPACT] How does your proposed solution address the challenge and what benefits will this bring to the Cardano ecosystem?
I. Proposed Solution and Impact on Cardano
- Revamping Plutus PBL to address African market challenges
- The adapted Plutus PBL will encourage innovation within the Cardano ecosystem
II. Potential Benefits to the Cardano Ecosystem
- Creates a skilled pool of web3 developers, facilitating the development of new dApps
- Reinforces Cardano's strategic goal of expanding its open-source projects
- Fosters a vibrant developer community driven by incentives
- Enhances retail access and investment opportunities through blockchain technology
III. Engagement and Interaction with the Developer Community
- Training through Wada community hubs, ensuring a hands-on, community-centric approach
- Engagement through "train-the-trainer" mentorship programs
IV. Success Metrics
- Number of dApps developed by the newly trained developers
- Growth in the number of open-source projects within the Cardano ecosystem
- Increase in retail access and investment opportunities in the African market
- Increase in the number of trained web3 developers
V. Uniqueness of the Solution
- The merging of Plutus PBL with Wada community hubs is a unique approach, integrating learning with practical, market-focused solutions
- This proposal has the potential to influence the African market and the global Cardano ecosystem
Wada is a Cardano-based community network of 35+ professionals focused on connecting the world to Africa using blockchain and AI. 30+ funded and completed proposals with strong partnerships within the Catalyst ecosystem. A trusted source for both Africa-based projects and wider ecosystem contributions.
Gimbalabs creates scaffolding for a robust and resilient global network of leaders, devOps pioneers, builders, and educators because we know that in the hands of many, Cardano will help to solve real problems.
[IMPACT] How do you intend to measure the success of your project?
A. Growth in Developer Community
- Monitor increase in trained web3 developers within Cardano ecosystem from Wada hubs.
B. Rise in dApp Development
- Track dApps created by target developers through the Plutus PBL program.
C. Open Source Projects Expansion
- Ascertain growth in open-source projects due to developers' input.
D. Retail Access & Investment Opportunities Improvement
- Observe market enhancements indicating the project's impact.
II. Cardano Ecosystem Benefits
A. Developer Community Expansion
- Enrich human resource capacity with a larger developer community.
B. Boost in dApp Development
- Add depth to Cardano's app ecosystem with more decentralized applications.
C. Open Source Projects Increase
- Grow the development landscape for Cardano with more open-source projects.
III. Impact on Cardano’s Growth
A. Short-term
- Increase in developer resources and new dApps, spurring activity in Cardano ecosystem.
B. Long-term
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Sustained growth with diverse developer community contributing to numerous projects.
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Expansion of retail access and investment opportunities in Africa, opening avenues for larger-scale collaborations and partnerships.
[IMPACT] Please describe your plans to share the outputs and results of your project?
Project Outputs and Results
A. Community
- Regular project updates to Cardano and Wada communities through project dissemination channels
B. Showcase
- Highlight developed dApps and open-source projects.
C. Collaborative Platforms
- Share codebases and project outcomes on open-source platforms like GitHub.
Distribution
A. Phase-wise Distribution
- Gradual release of project outputs following each significant development milestone.
B. Post-completion Sharing
- Comprehensive dissemination of all outcomes and impacts after project completion.
Sharing Outputs and Opportunities
A. Target Audience
- Sharing with Cardano community, Wada hubs, project participants, and potential investors or partners.
B. Method
- Use of project reporting channels, blogs, press releases, and presentations.
Utilizing Project Results for Future R&D
A. Insights Extraction
- Review project outcomes to identify successes, challenges, and areas for improvement.
B. Follow-up Projects
- Using insights to develop new projects aimed at further enhancing the Cardano ecosystem and the Wada network.
C. Partnership Opportunities
Use project success to attract partnerships for future research and development
[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability?
Wada is a Cardano-based community network of 35+ professionals focused on connecting the world to Africa using blockchain and AI. 30+ funded and completed proposals with strong partnerships within the Catalyst ecosystem. A trusted source for both Africa-based projects and wider ecosystem contributions.
Gimbalabs creates scaffolding for a robust and resilient global network of leaders, devOps pioneers, builders, and educators because we know that in the hands of many, Cardano will help to solve real problems.
Relying on our past experience and successful project completions, our joint team is ready to take on this proposal with responsibility and reliability. We plan to manage funds with the help of a trusted treasury management operator within the Cardano ecosystem.
We'll use Catalyst's milestone-based method for fund allocation. This way, funds are released as we achieve specific outcomes and deliverables. Our team has a knack for working well with communities and organizations. We've done everything from Wada hubs to community facilitation, so we know how to connect with key participants and early adopters who are crucial to this proposal.
Our team includes effective project leads who have finished multiple proposals in Catalyst, provided useful insights for Challenge Teams, and gained experiences from various organizations outside of Cardano. Each team member brings their own set of skills to the table
[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] What are the main goals for the project and how will you validate if your approach is feasible?
I. Main Project Goals
A. Tailor Plutus PBL
- Enhance and localize Plutus PBL for Wada hubs to accommodate distinct needs and languages.
B. Scale Plutus PBL Implementation
- Expand Plutus PBL in Wada hubs and beyond, targeting recent graduates and young IT developers.
C. Transform Recent High-School and University Graduates into Cardano Developers
- Facilitate the transition of traditional IT developers and recent graduates into competent web3 developers.
II. Validation of Project Approach
A. Pilot Implementation
- Conduct initial Plutus PBL training in selected Wada hubs to test the feasibility and effectiveness of the approach.
B. Feedback Gathering
- Seek feedback from trainees and mentors about the program's usefulness and impact.
C. Evaluation of Outcome
- Assess the number of developers proficient in web3 and Plutus PBL post-training and their contribution to Cardano-based projects.
D. Project's Impact Assessment
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Evaluate the growth of open-source projects on Cardano and the acceleration of dApp development as a result of the project.
[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] Please provide a detailed breakdown of your project’s milestones and each of the main tasks or activities to reach the milestone plus the expected timeline for the delivery.
I. Project Milestones, Activities, Timeline, and Costs
A. Milestone 1: Adapt Plutus PBL (Month 1-3)
Key Activities:
- Identify specific localization needs for Wada hubs
- Develop an upgrade plan for Plutus PBL
- Implement changes and translations to Plutus PBL
Success Criteria:
- Creation of a localized Plutus PBL that meets the distinct needs of Wada hubs
Projected Cost:
- 100,000 ADA
B. Milestone 2: Pilot Implementation (Month 4-6)
Key Activities:
- Train initial set of mentors in upgraded Plutus PBL
- Rollout of Plutus PBL in selected Wada hubs
Success Criteria:
- Successful completion of Plutus PBL training by mentors
- Initial feedback from mentors and trainees in pilot hubs
Projected Cost:
- 80,000 ADA
C. Milestone 3: Full-scale Implementation (Month 7-9)
Key Activities:
- Implement upgraded Plutus PBL across additional Wada hubs
- Monitor progress and collect feedback
Success Criteria:
- Successful Plutus PBL rollout in target Wada hubs
- Positive feedback and signs of impact from hubs
Projected Cost:
- 120,000 ADA
D. Milestone 4: Evaluation and Iteration (Month 10-12)
Key Activities:
- Conduct comprehensive evaluation of the project's impact
- Identify areas for improvement and implement changes as necessary
Success Criteria:
- Clear measurement of project's impact, including number of new web3 developers and contributions to Cardano projects
- Creation of a roadmap for continuous improvement of Plutus PBL
Projected Cost:
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120,000 ADA
[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] Please describe the deliverables, outputs and intended outcomes of each milestone.
I. Milestones, Deliverables, and Intended Outcomes
A. Milestone 1: Adapt Plutus PBL
Deliverables:
- Detailed localization needs report for Wada hubs
- Revised version of Plutus PBL tailored to Wada hubs' needs
Intended Outcomes:
- Enhancements in Plutus PBL are aligned with the needs of Wada hubs
- Increase in accessibility and comprehension of Plutus PBL due to localization
Measurement of Progress:
- Completion of the needs report
- Release of the upgraded Plutus PBL
B. Milestone 2: Pilot Implementation
Deliverables:
- Trained mentors capable of facilitating Plutus PBL
- Pilot rollout report capturing feedback and improvement areas
Intended Outcomes:
- Increased skills and capabilities of mentors
- Identification of areas of improvement for the Plutus PBL program
Measurement of Progress:
- Completion of mentor training
- Completion and analysis of pilot rollout report
C. Milestone 3: Full-scale Implementation
Deliverables:
- Comprehensive rollout of Plutus PBL in selected Wada hubs
- Continuous monitoring reports capturing progress and feedback
Intended Outcomes:
- Widespread adoption of Plutus PBL across selected Wada hubs
- Continuous improvement and adaptation of the Plutus PBL program
Measurement of Progress:
- Completion of Plutus PBL rollout in all hubs
- Analysis of monitoring reports and feedback
D. Milestone 4: Evaluation and Iteration (Month 10-12)
Deliverables:
- Evaluation report outlining project impact and areas for improvement
- Roadmap for future improvements of Plutus PBL
Intended Outcomes:
- Identification of program's strengths and areas for further improvement
- Blueprint for continuous enhancement of Plutus PBL
Measurement of Progress:
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Completion of the comprehensive evaluation report
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Creation of the roadmap for future improvements
[RESOURCES & VALUE FOR MONEY] Please provide a detailed budget breakdown of the proposed work and resources.
The rate used for this budget is 1ADA to .25USD. We will change to stablecoins as much as possible and depending on how prices fluctuate at time of project implementation we will be able to do more or scale down project goals
[RESOURCES & VALUE FOR MONEY] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?
Wada Team +
Josh Fielding - Project Lead + Global Lead @ Wada
Has a combined 10+ years’ experience in fintech and startups, focused on banking, payments and lending across Europe, APAC and African continents. He brings his years of project management and team leadership experience, running teams for Start Up Bootcamp and as an organizer for a Danish enterprise accelerator.
As an active member of Catalyst since Fund 2 and previously-funded audit proposer, Josh has the experience and capability to deliver on the goals of the proposal, alongside the team at Wada.
<https://linkedin.com/in/joshfielding>
Mercy A - Coordination Lead @ Wada
Has a combined 25+ years' experience in Project Management and Engagement (West Africa, Canada) Healthcare (UK, Canada) and brings a wealth of experience and passion to this project. Mercy is responsible for Wada coordination, and building partnerships.
<https://www.linkedin.com/in/mercy-tachie-menson-77b10931/>
Megan: Wada Cameroon Hub Co-Lead, Central Africa Coordination Lead, Wada core team member (Education and Event Lead), Math & Physics teacher, bilingual (French & English), Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-hess-5b853292/
Afia Owusu - Oracle Lead + West Africa Regional Lead @ Wada
Holds an MSc degree in Management Information Systems from the University of Lancaster, UK and a BSc. (Hons) in Natural Resources Management, University of Science and Technology (UST), Kumasi, Ghana. She coordinated the Project Wildlife Clubs of African implemented by Birdlife International involving 17 African countries with the major output being information exchange between African Wildlife Clubs and their international counterparts through development of an electronic manual for the mainstreaming of environmental education for participating countries.
<https://www.linkedin.com/in/afia-asamoa-04911816/>
Plutus PBL Team +
James Dunseith, Project advisor
James is a Teacher, Coach, Smart Contract Developer and Facilitator with extensive experience in creating engaging learning experiences and facilitating problem-solving. James has successfully implemented project-based learning and mastery-based grading methodologies. Additionally, he has contributed to developing gimbalabs.com, creating resilient and reusable components. James leveraged his expertise in learning design and community engagement for this project.
LinkedIn: <https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-dunseith-0135651/>
[RESOURCES & VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?
Value for Money and Justification of Costs
The requested funding of 420,000 ADA for this project represents significant value for money for the Cardano ecosystem due to the following key factors:
- Broad Impact: Our project is not limited to a single function; instead, it targets various facets of the Cardano ecosystem, such as educational capacity building, community engagement, and market expansion, particularly in the untapped African markets.
- Leveraging Existing Resources: We are capitalizing on the proven success of the Plutus PBL program, which reduces the risk of project failure and ensures optimal use of funds.
- Creating Long-Term Value: By fostering a new generation of web3 developers and market influencers in Africa, this project is contributing to the growth of the Cardano ecosystem in the long term.
The budget for each milestone was calculated based on extensive research into similar projects, consultations with local partners, and our own experience in project management and implementation. High-cost items, such as the full-scale implementation and upgrade of the Plutus PBL, are justified by their potential to create substantial and lasting impacts.
