GreenRewards is a Cardano-based incentive system designed to empower environmental action at the grassroots level in Africa. The project aims to pilot a blockchain-powered reward mechanism across three targeted regions — Ghana, Kenya, and Goma (DRC) — by encouraging individuals and community groups to engage in sustainable environmental practices such as tree planting, recycling, and neighborhood clean-up campaigns. In return, participants earn Cardano-based tokens (e.g., $GREEN) upon verification of their actions, creating a tangible incentive for climate-positive behavior. At its core, GreenRewards addresses two critical challenges: the urgent need for scalable, community-driven environmental action, and the lack of accessible, transparent systems to verify and reward such efforts. Despite increasing awareness of climate change, many communities lack the motivation and infrastructure to participate actively in conservation work. This pilot proposes a holistic model that integrates blockchain technology, mobile access, local partnerships, and reward systems to close that gap. The project will launch with the creation of a native Cardano token or use of ADA to serve as the reward currency. Smart contracts will automate the issuance of tokens based on task verification. To ensure credibility and fairness, local validators — such as youth leaders, teachers, and environmental organizations — will be recruited and trained to verify activities using photo or video evidence with GPS and time-stamped data. A lightweight mobile application and USSD platform will be developed to ensure accessibility for both urban and rural users, enabling them to view available tasks, submit completed actions, track earnings, and access educational content about blockchain and environmental stewardship. GreenRewards will roll out coordinated local campaigns tailored to each region’s context. Examples include the “1000 Trees for Climate” challenge, “Clean My Street” neighborhood drives, and “Recycle & Earn” market initiatives. Every verified task earns the participant a specific number of $GREEN tokens. These tokens are more than symbolic — they will be redeemable for useful goods such as food, seeds, or digital credits, as well as services like school supplies or transportation. Additionally, they will serve as proof-of-reputation, enabling high-performing participants to access future benefits such as training, employment referrals, or leadership roles in the program. The benefits of this pilot extend across multiple impact layers. Environmentally, it drives measurable outcomes such as increased greenery, reduced pollution, and improved public hygiene. Socially, it empowers marginalized communities, especially youth and women, by connecting their daily environmental contributions to real economic value. Technologically, it introduces participants to the Cardano blockchain in an intuitive and meaningful way, advancing local understanding of decentralized tools and fostering inclusion in the Web3 economy. GreenRewards is highly aligned with Cardano’s mission of using blockchain to create positive global change. By combining decentralized technology, climate action, and social inclusion, this pilot serves as a blueprint for replicable, scalable impact. It positions Cardano not just as a financial protocol but as a platform for grassroots innovation in Africa and beyond. The pilot’s results, including environmental metrics, community engagement rates, and token circulation data, will be monitored, analyzed, and shared transparently with the global Cardano community. This feedback loop will allow for continued iteration and prepare the program for broader regional deployment in subsequent phases. With strong local partnerships, a replicable infrastructure, and a compelling vision for change, GreenRewards seeks to demonstrate how small actions — when collectively validated, rewarded, and scaled — can drive massive impact.

Across many African communities, environmental degradation continues to intensify due to a combination of rapid urbanization, population growth, poor waste management practices, deforestation, and the lack of effective community-based interventions. In places such as Ghana, Kenya, and Goma (DRC), these challenges have been compounded by limited public awareness of environmental conservation, a lack of resources for grassroots initiatives, and minimal incentives for individuals to engage in sustained climate-positive behaviors. The issue is further exacerbated by socio-economic pressures that prioritize short-term survival over long-term sustainability, making environmental action a lower priority for communities already grappling with poverty and unemployment. Despite growing international attention on climate change, the reality on the ground is that many African communities are disconnected from the broader environmental discourse and lack the tools or support to take meaningful action. While governments and NGOs have launched various campaigns to promote eco-friendly practices, many of these efforts suffer from inconsistent funding, limited scalability, and weak community ownership. As a result, activities like tree planting or neighborhood clean-ups are often sporadic, with little follow-through or lasting impact. There remains a pressing need for innovative models that align environmental action with personal and communal benefit, thereby embedding sustainability into the daily lives of local populations. Furthermore, traditional top-down models of environmental intervention have failed to fully engage the most critical stakeholders — the local citizens themselves. Young people and women, in particular, are underrepresented in climate-related initiatives, despite being the most affected by environmental decline. At the same time, Africa’s rapidly growing youth population presents a unique opportunity to build a generation of environmentally-conscious citizens, provided they are empowered with the right tools, education, and incentives. What is needed is a system that not only educates but also motivates community members by rewarding them tangibly for their efforts in improving their environment. The lack of accessible, transparent, and scalable mechanisms for validating and rewarding community action remains a core barrier. Existing reward systems, where they exist, are often paper-based or rely on centralized oversight that lacks accountability. This results in inefficiencies, fraud, and a lack of trust, ultimately discouraging participation. Moreover, in rural and semi-urban areas where digital connectivity is limited, solutions must be designed to work in both online and offline contexts. This presents a major opportunity to leverage blockchain technology, which offers verifiable, decentralized, and transparent systems for managing rewards and validating community engagement. GreenRewards is designed to address these gaps through a holistic, blockchain-powered model. The core idea is simple yet transformative: reward verified environmental actions with a token that holds both intrinsic and extrinsic value. By leveraging the Cardano blockchain and a native token (e.g., $GREEN), communities in Ghana, Kenya, and Goma (DRC) can be incentivized to participate in meaningful environmental work. Through a transparent system of smart contracts and community validators, every planted tree, collected plastic bottle, or cleaned street can be logged, verified, and rewarded in a way that builds trust and fosters long-term behavior change. This approach transforms sustainability from a passive ideal into a participatory, rewarding, and community-driven process. The use of digital tokens allows for multiple layers of engagement. Participants not only gain immediate rewards that can be redeemed for goods and services, but also accumulate reputation points that reflect their long-term commitment to environmental stewardship. These reputation points can later unlock access to opportunities such as job training, certifications, or leadership roles in future campaigns. In this way, the GreenRewards system provides both short-term utility and long-term value creation, aligning individual incentives with broader community and environmental goals. Another key aspect of the problem lies in the limited exposure that many African communities have to emerging technologies like blockchain. Despite the rise of crypto adoption on the continent, particularly in countries like Kenya and Ghana, knowledge and usage remain concentrated in urban tech hubs. The potential of blockchain to support real-world, socially impactful use cases is still vastly underexplored. By embedding blockchain functionality in a practical, community-led project, GreenRewards also serves as a vehicle for digital education and inclusion, offering participants a direct, hands-on experience with decentralized systems. This not only raises awareness but builds digital literacy and positions Cardano as a platform for social good. In addressing environmental issues, GreenRewards also aims to disrupt the cycle of dependency that plagues many aid-driven programs. Rather than relying on handouts or sporadic NGO-driven initiatives, communities will be empowered to take ownership of their surroundings through a system that is transparent, data-driven, and built for sustainability. Tasks such as tree planting or street cleaning are not just volunteer efforts — they become part of an ecosystem where effort is recognized, valued, and rewarded. Local validators, including youth leaders, educators, and environmental groups, will form the backbone of a trust network that ensures integrity, fosters accountability, and builds social capital from within. Moreover, the geographic selection of pilot sites reflects a deliberate strategy to maximize both impact and learnings. Ghana offers a strong base of community institutions and rising interest in Cardano; Kenya provides a thriving ecosystem of youth-led climate action groups and digital innovation; and Goma, DRC, presents urgent environmental needs coupled with high youth unemployment and willing civil society partners. Each of these regions embodies a unique aspect of the broader African environmental crisis while offering fertile ground for experimentation and scaling. The localized adaptation of a unified model ensures cultural relevance while maintaining program coherence and backend efficiency. Ultimately, the problem GreenRewards seeks to solve is twofold: the environmental degradation that threatens livelihoods and ecosystems, and the lack of inclusive, scalable systems to address it in a way that empowers communities and leverages modern technology. By addressing both of these issues in tandem, the project sets a precedent for how Cardano and blockchain technology can be used not only for financial innovation but for environmental justice, education, and grassroots empowerment. GreenRewards aims not to replace existing environmental efforts but to complement, amplify, and decentralize them — creating a replicable model that can be scaled across Africa and beyond.

1. Tangible Climate Action GreenRewards directly supports measurable environmental outcomes through incentivized community participation in activities such as tree planting, waste collection, and recycling. This creates visible and trackable improvements in local ecosystems while fostering long-term eco-conscious behavior.
2. Empowerment of Marginalized Communities By engaging youth, women, and underserved populations as both participants and validators, the project builds local capacity and leadership. It offers economic incentives for conservation efforts, helping to address unemployment and social exclusion while promoting dignity through work-based rewards.
3. Real-World Use Case for Cardano The initiative showcases the utility of the Cardano blockchain beyond finance, using native tokens and smart contracts to verify and reward social good. It strengthens Cardano’s position as a tool for transparent, inclusive, and sustainable development at the community level.
4. Scalable and Replicable Model GreenRewards is designed as a pilot that can be adapted to various local contexts across Africa and globally. Its modular framework—combining tokenomics, mobile/USSD tech, and community validation—makes it easy to replicate, scale, or integrate with other ecosystem tools and initiatives.
5. Increased Blockchain Awareness and Adoption Participants are introduced to blockchain in a practical, hands-on way that demystifies the technology. This builds digital literacy and trust in decentralized systems, especially in regions where access to such technologies is limited, contributing to broader Web3 adoption.

1. GreenRewards Token System Deliverable: A native Cardano token ($GREEN) and smart contracts for automated reward distribution. Definition of Done: Token minted and deployed on Cardano mainnet; smart contracts tested and live; verifiable transactions linked to completed community tasks.

2. Validator Network in 3 Countries Deliverable: 60 trained validators (20 per country) equipped to verify environmental actions. Definition of Done: Validators onboarded via documented training sessions, using the web/mobile portal to submit verifications with timestamped evidence.

3. Mobile App & USSD Platform Deliverable: Lightweight mobile app and USSD system for task tracking, reporting, and token balance view. Definition of Done: Public beta of app available on Android; USSD active in all 3 regions; users able to view tasks, submit proof, and track earnings.

4. Environmental Campaign Execution Deliverable: Community challenges such as “1000 Trees for Climate,” “Clean My Street,” and “Recycle & Earn.” Definition of Done: Campaigns executed in all 3 countries with participant reports, media content, and verified task logs recorded on-chain.

5. Token Redemption System Deliverable: Real-world token utility (redeemable for items/services or as reputation points). Definition of Done: At least 3 local partners per country accept $GREEN or track reputation usage; redemption flow tested and documented.

6. Monitoring, Evaluation & Final Report Deliverable: Full M&E process with baseline and post-pilot surveys, plus a community impact report. Definition of Done: Report published with data visualizations, success stories, and lessons learned; shared with Cardano community.

1. Program Design & Coordination 29,000
2. Smart Contract & Token Development 18,000
3. Mobile App + USSD Interface 35,000
4. Community Validators & Training 27,000
5. Local Environmental Campaigns 48,000
6. Rewards Pool (Token-Backed Incentives) 30,000
7. Publicity, Education & Media 22,000
8. Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting 18,000
9. Country-specific Logistics & Admin 30,000 Total 259,000 ADA

To successfully deliver the GreenRewards pilot across Ghana, Kenya, and Goma (DRC), we estimate a project duration of 9 months and require a core team of 12 to 15 contributors, supported by local partners and validators. Team Composition & Roles: 1 Project Manager – Oversees coordination across all regions, timelines, and deliverables. 3 Country Coordinators – Based in Ghana, Kenya, and Goma respectively, managing local logistics, partnerships, and validator networks. 2 Blockchain Developers – Handle token creation, smart contract deployment, wallet integration, and backend infrastructure. 2 Mobile/USSD Developers – Responsible for developing and testing the mobile app and USSD interface for low-connectivity environments. 1 UI/UX Designer – Designs intuitive, accessible interfaces for community users. 2 Community Engagement Leads – Oversee environmental campaign execution and participant onboarding in the field. 1 M&E Specialist – Manages monitoring, surveys, and final reporting. 60 Validators (part-time) – Local community members trained to verify tasks and input data using the validation system.

Duration Breakdown by Phase: Months 1–2: Planning, recruitment, validator training, token and app development kickoff. Months 3–5: Launch of mobile app and USSD interface, validator deployment, initial campaigns rollout. Months 6–8: Full pilot operations, continuous campaign execution, token rewards and redemptions. Month 9: Final monitoring, data analysis, and publication of impact report and open-source tools.

Boaz Bandu Balume is a prominent figure in the Cardano ecosystem, particularly within the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). With a background in environmental science and sustainable development, he has significantly contributed to the growth and adoption of blockchain technology in the region.​ 🌍 Community Leadership and Education Boaz serves as the manager of the Goma Wada Hub, a key center for Cardano education and community engagement in Goma, DRC. Under his leadership, the hub has conducted workshops on Haskell and Plutus, aiming to equip local developers with the skills necessary for blockchain development. These initiatives are part of a broader effort to integrate blockchain technology into sustainable development projects in the region. ​ 🗳️ Governance and Proposal Involvement Since Fund 8 of Project Catalyst, Boaz has been an active participant in Cardano's governance. He has served as a proposer and has been involved in various roles, including proposal assessment and challenge team participation. His platform statement highlights his commitment to facilitating communication, especially for the French-speaking community, and organizing meetups to foster engagement. ​

🌱 Environmental and Technological Integration Beyond his work in blockchain education, Boaz has co-authored a publication on biogas production, demonstrating his commitment to integrating environmental sustainability with technological innovation. ​

🌐 Regional and Global Impact Boaz's efforts extend beyond Goma. He has been instrumental in initiatives aimed at expanding Cardano's presence in other parts of the DRC, such as Bukavu, through the creation of Cardano clubs in local universities. Additionally, he has represented the community at international events, including hosting workshops on the Cardano Constitution and being elected to represent the community in Buenos Aires in December 2024. ​

Through his multifaceted involvement, Boaz Bandu Balume exemplifies the intersection of blockchain technology, environmental sustainability, and community development. His work continues to inspire and drive the adoption of decentralized technologies in Africa.

After the initial development and 9-month pilot, GreenRewards will transition into a community-driven, sustainable initiative supported through a mix of local ownership, token utility, and Cardano ecosystem alignment. Trained local validators in Ghana, Kenya, and Goma will continue coordinating campaigns and verifications, incentivized through micro-rewards. A Community DAO will be introduced to manage campaign governance, validator onboarding, and reward rules, ensuring decentralized oversight. The $GREEN token will maintain circulation through real-world redemptions and partnerships with vendors, NGOs, and local businesses, with options to replenish the reward pool via future Catalyst proposals, grants, or CSR initiatives. The project’s open-source tech stack allows ongoing community contributions and scalability. Long-term, GreenRewards will integrate with tools like Atala PRISM and Cardano wallets, expanding into other African regions with local adaptation and global support.

None