Continuing the discussion from Wada Monthly Meetup:
Wada Monthly Meetup #4 - Cardano Budget 2025
The latest Wada Forum provided deep insight into how DReps across Africa and the Cardano community are navigating the 2025 budget process. With panelists from Wada, Cardano Ghana, Goma, Lido Nation, and Nigeria (Kit Willow), this session focused on practical experiences, ethical questions, and critical reflections on the Cardano Budget and proposals review.
Scheduled: 01/05/2025
Recording: https://youtu.be/8nCDW8ihhw4
Broadcast: https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1yNGaLdjkoEKj
Setting the Stage
Mercy opened the session by outlining the forum’s focus: understanding how DRePs are engaging with the 2025 budgeting process. She reminded participants that the proposal submission window closed on April 24th and voting was actively underway.
Intersect has not yet crossed the 50% voting threshold, and the budgeting process remains fluid. Final decisions will rest on DReps through an on-chain vote once proposals are finalized. Mercy emphasized that real governance starts when treasury funds are allocated and stakeholders must balance principle with impact.
Inside the Budget Review Process
Nana Safo (Wada DRep) stressed the importance of spending responsibly, supporting a wide range of proposals across technical, community, and governance areas, while adhering to net change limits.
Seidu Ziblim (Cardano Ghana) shared that out of 126 proposals reviewed, his team supported 46, abstained on 17, and rejected 63, using impact and budget as primary filters.
Darlington Kofa (Lido Nation) focused on alignment with the DRep-ratified Cardano roadmap and avoided company-driven submissions. Limited time forced prioritization.
Oladimeji Mubarak (Kit Willow) critiqued the absence of a roadmap before the process opened, drawing parallels to Catalyst. He called for pre-submission oversight to prevent self-serving or poorly aligned proposals.
Martin Musagara (Goma DRep) described how his team, despite infrastructure constraints, hosted in-person sessions to assess proposals based on budget clarity and community alignment.
Common Challenges With The Budget Process
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Proposal Volume: All DReps found the volume overwhelming. Many believed 70% of proposals lacked alignment or necessity.
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Lack of Strategic Fit: Several proposals seemed more Catalyst-oriented than suitable for this budget process.
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Compressed Timelines: The speed of the process led to inconsistent understanding and limited review time.
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Need for Scrutiny: Concerns were raised over duplicated proposals and the inclusion of ideas misaligned with Cardano’s core values like one suggesting building on Ethereum with Cardano funds.
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Governance Gaps: DReps highlighted the need for expert pre-vetting and clearer rules to protect the treasury.
Local Engagement as a Strength
Despite hurdles, many DReps ran local workshops to gather community input.
From WhatsApp groups to in-person reviews, these sessions brought local voices into governance. Participants found the process engaging and informative, even if time was limited.
Proposal Highlights from the Community
The DReps highlighted strong proposals they hoped would receive funding. Mercy urged DReps to pay attention to committee proposals, particularly those from MCC, which include initiatives for universities and community hubs.
Voting on Your Own Proposal
A significant part of the discussion revolved around whether DReps should vote on their own proposals. The Wada DRep coordinator was questioned on their abstention, sparking a broader ethical debate. He explained that the abstention was chosen to maintain transparency and avoid conflicts of interest, while still supporting the proposal in principle. His argument was largely supported by the Lido Nation DRep while others argued that abstaining may not align with delegators’ expectations and noted that, in Catalyst’s anonymous system, such votes would likely happen anyway.
Another DRep was of the view that DReps should vote openly if they would have done so anonymously, emphasizing personal integrity and alignment with community trust.
Delegation and the Path Forward
Mercy acknowledged that African DReps still face significant challenges in securing delegation. She stressed that the best way to gain delegation is by contributing consistent value and showing up where it matters. She encouraged participants to identify their passion areas and contribute meaningfully—whether that’s policy, tooling, or education. Mercy also called on well-resourced delegators to spread their support to underrepresented DReps who are building trust from the ground up.
What’s Next?
As Cardano’s governance journey evolves, so too does the role of the DRep.
This session revealed both the weight of responsibility DReps carry and the systemic gaps that must be addressed.
The conversation continues as the community heads into final reviews and prepares for on-chain voting.
Join the next Wada Monthly Meetup to stay involved and keep shaping the future of decentralized governance.
Nana Safo.