Mercy Fordwoo - Budget

Budget Committee Criteria:

  • Strong understanding of Cardano ecosystem and blockchain technology

  • Experience in financial planning, budgeting, or treasury management

  • Commitment to transparency, collaboration, and community-driven processes

  • Ability to dedicate time for regular meetings and committee work

  • Excellent communication and analytical skills

  • Demonstrated integrity and commitment to Cardano's values

Candidates Full Name

Mercy Fordwoo

Are you currently part of the committee they are applying for?

No

Is there a particular role within the committee that you are interested in, if so which and why? (if applicable)

Committee Member

What is your experiences within Intersect and Cardano?

I am currently a member of IntersectMBO’s Civics Committee, Constitution Ratification Task Force, and Constitution Drafting Task Force. I actively participated in CIP 1694 events in Colorado and Edinburgh and co-organized the Ghana CIP 1694 workshop in 2023. I am a co-founder and the Partnerships Lead at Wada Global and have been part of Project Catalyst since Fund 1. I was also the Funded Proposer's Representative on Catalyst Circle v3

What are your pledges and plans should you be elected?

Support Grassroots Innovation: Allocate treasury funds to community-driven projects that promote innovation and increase transaction volume, especially in globally inaccessible communities.

Ensure Sustainable Treasury Management: Advocate for treasury spending models that balance short-term needs with long-term growth, ensuring a healthy treasury for future generations.

Expand Cardano’s Global Reach: Use my experience with Wada Global to grow Cardano’s presence, particularly in Africa and other emerging communities to drive growth and adoption.

Promote Transparency and Inclusion: Ensure diverse voices from all regions have a meaningful role in how treasury funds are allocated.

Develop Resilient Treasury Models: Continue work on the Cardano Resiliency SIG to explore sustainable models for the treasury within the 45B cap.

Encourage Global Collaboration: Foster partnerships among global Cardano leaders, partner chains and other blockchain ecosystems to fund initiatives that grow the protocol and boost real-world adoption.

Focus on Long-Term Growth: Prioritize funding for projects that drive long-term success and resilience for the Cardano ecosystem.

Why should the community vote for you?

With over 25 years of experience in project management, community engagement, and healthcare across West Africa, the UK, and Canada, I bring strong skills in connecting diverse communities and managing complex projects. As co-founder and Partnerships Lead at Wada Global -an Intersect Enterprise member and Regional Hubs Facilitator for Africa-, I have been deeply involved in growing the Cardano ecosystem, particularly in Africa, since Project Catalyst Fund 1. My roles as the Funded Proposer’s Representative on Catalyst Circle v3, and member of the Civics Committee drafting the Cardano Constitution and working group member facilitating the global Constitutional Workshops have given me deep insights into structuring and resourcing community-led initiatives for success.

Currently, I am working with community leaders Jo Alum (who is also a founding member of the Cardano Eastern Council), and Jose De Gamboa (a Cardano thought leader, Civics Committee member and an economist) on a Cardano Resiliency SIG (special interest group). This initiative began in July 2024, during the Longmont Cardano Constitution draftathon, where we recognized the need to explore models for sustaining Cardano’s treasury within a 45B cap, while ensuring robust growth of the protocol and community beyond seven generations. My work on the Civics Committee will end in April 2025 as I transition to the Budget Committee should my bid be successful.

Having held Ada since 2017, I firmly believe that the Cardano treasury should be used to push community resourcing, building, meaningful participation and decision-making to the edges. My hands-on experience in the ecosystem allows me to bring a community-focused approach to the Budget Committee, ensuring treasury funds are allocated to projects that drive real grassroot innovation and transaction volume increase, while being managed sustainably for the long-term benefit of the entire Cardano ecosystem.

Do you have any other Cardano affiliations or possible conflicts of interests, including you as an individual or an enterprise you are associated with?

I am Partnership Lead at Wada Global an Intersect Enterprise member.

Are you currently in receipt of or previously received any Intersect or Cardano funding or grant?

Wada is an Intersect Enterprise member and received an Intersect grant to facilitate the Intersect Regional hubs in Sub Sahara Africa

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