Simon and Adaeze (ReFi Lagos)
{"title": "ReFi Lagos", "logoImg": "bafkreidmmzzow3mgnr2xp6vd7vzgxld3pgtqpsctenxqvekvhxjcfvjwue", "website": "https://osisi.earth", "bannerImg": "bafkreiflms7mdrl2izu4at2le5qkuo4guud3wfyxuntpv3lqj57qkttat4", "createdAt": 1729701108641, "credentials": {"twitter": {"type": ["VerifiableCredential"], "proof": {"jws": "eyJhbGciOiJFZERTQSIsImNyaXQiOlsiYjY0Il0sImI2NCI6ZmFsc2V9..CbjMPzvPVaT80gH53ac9PetIaXEZuxBa9nsovojbbrQ39dSxJk27URLZJLyWsvRYBery1ECi9wIpvnOAZuiTCA", "type": "Ed25519Signature2018", "created": "2024-10-23T16:26:17.749Z", "proofPurpose": "assertionMethod", "verificationMethod": "did:key:z6MkghvGHLobLEdj1bgRLhS4LPGJAvbMA1tn2zcRyqmYU5LC#z6MkghvGHLobLEdj1bgRLhS4LPGJAvbMA1tn2zcRyqmYU5LC"}, "issuer": "did:key:z6MkghvGHLobLEdj1bgRLhS4LPGJAvbMA1tn2zcRyqmYU5LC", "@context": ["https://www.w3.org/2018/credentials/v1"], "issuanceDate": "2024-10-23T16:26:17.749Z", "expirationDate": "2025-01-21T16:26:17.749Z", "credentialSubject": {"id": "did:pkh:eip155:1:0xC117d2f70BE4A766e7F3e055547E7C5403D447BC", "hash": "v0.0.0:UIY1PPzDE3cB5yIbMAE2DjAxciavmDWt3qYDCyKSRe0=", "@context": [{"hash": "https://schema.org/Text", "provider": "https://schema.org/Text"}], "provider": "ClearTextTwitter#ezeugosimon"}}}, "description": "\n**Project Overview** \n\n**[ReFi Lagos](https://x.com/ReFiLagos01)** is a **ReFi DAO Local Node** and regenerative hub in Nigeria empowering climate ambassadors and nature stewards to scale climate action leveraging regenerative finance principles and technology. We seek to support indigenous people in restoring natural ecosystems and biodiversity by organizing tree planting festivals and promoting climate change education in Africa. ReFi Lagos is supported by  Gitcoin,  Regen Coordination, Silvi Protocol, and Impact Miner (Atlantis DAO)\n\n\n**Why Does It Matter?**\nAfrica's climate crisis is complex. Temperatures in the Sahel region are rising 1.5 times faster than the global average due to increased urbanization and severe deforestation, both of which increase carbon emissions. \n\nDeforestation in Nigeria has led to [loss of 96% of the country's primary forest](https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/09/deforestation-nigeria-has-lost-96-of-its-forest-ncf/). This has exacerbated climate change impacts, including biodiversity loss, heat waves, and [severe coastal erosion](https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2022/6/1/in-oil-rich-niger-delta-coastal-erosion-is-outliving-residents)  in the country.\n![Deforestation in Nigeria](https://i.ibb.co/yRPM3DG/Gitcoin.png) \n\n**[Climate change costs Africa $15 billion per year,](https://www.afdb.org/en/cop28/focus-africa)** which exceeds the GDPs of 26 African countries. By 2050, it could reach $50 billion. Climate change impacts disadvantaged communities and threatens traditional livelihoods. With poor access to climate finance, farmers/land stewards are unable to adapt.  Addressing this issue is critical for environmental sustainability and community well-being, and we are passionate about helping to solve it. \n\n\n**Our Solution:** \nWe believe that solving global climate change requires decentralized and indigenous climate solutions. ReFi Lagos is scaling tree-planting event though research and development of **[Project Osisi](http://osisi.earth/)**\nOsisi (or tree) is an indigenous tree-planting festival that allows impact donors to efficiently support tree-planting events with real-time data and impact reports. It empowers local land stewards with tools to plant trees and capture ecological data. We’ve successfully set up a **[1040-square-meter pilot tree garden](https://tinyurl.com/OSISIGARDEN)** in Lagos to facilitate nursing of tree seedlings in Lagos. OSISI pilot garden was partly funded by **Gitcoin Grant**. \n![tree nursing](https://i.ibb.co/GPC6sgX/coconut.jpg) \n\n**Scaling Climate Education With [Project Afrilearn](https://x.com/Afrilearn1)**\nAt [AfriLearn](https://x.com/Afrilearn1), we're nurturing a new generation of [climate-smart ambassadors](https://x.com/Afrilearn1/status/1829152906622447714) passionate about sustainability. Local climate ambassadors take on pivotal roles within their communities, fostering climate change awareness and actions in Africa. Our inaugural cohort successfully onboarded and trained 60 participants across Africa. \n\n![certificate](https://i.ibb.co/nBDNbbq/cert-2.jpg) \n\n\n**ReFi Lagos Past/Present Projects** \n\n*[Afrilearn Climate Ambassador Program Cohort 2](https://x.com/afrilearn1/status/1900570489833001076?s=46)* \n\n*[Design and Development of Regen Environmental Card Games](https://x.com/Afrilearn1/status/1905215670372999235)* \n\n*Setting up of [OSISI pilot garden](tinyurl.com/OSISIGARDEN) at Badagry, Lagos*\n\n*[Tayville Academy Tree-Planting Festival, Akure, Ondo State](https://x.com/mr_doski/status/1869340373497372715)* \n\n*[Mopo Akinlade Community Tree-Planting Festival, Lagos](https://x.com/ReFiLagos01/status/1773343168278183995?s=20)*\n\n*[Omole Grammar School Tree Planting Festival, Ikeja](https://x.com/ReFiLagos01/status/1806721313458843865)* [Check out highlight of this event on Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSgIWhB4TDA) \n\n*[Ikole-Ekiti Community Cleanup and Climate Awareness Campaign, Ekiti State](https://tinyurl.com/Ikole-Community-cleanup)*\n\n*[Afrilearn Climate Ambassador Program Cohort 1](https://x.com/afrilearn1/status/1829152906622447714?s=46)*\n\n\n\n**Media blogs**\nResearched and published engaging climate/Web3 educational contents, including:\n*[Combating plastic waste in Nigeria](https://blog.refidao.com/combating-plastic-waste-in-nigeria-exploring-challenges-and-opportunities-with-web3-2/)*\n*[Unlocking Africa’s Agricultural Real Estate](https://blog.refidao.com/web3-and-regenerative-finance-unlocking-africas-agricultural-potential/)*\n*[Regenerating The Sahel Region-Healing The Soil](https://blog.refidao.com/regenerating-the-sahel-healing-the-soil/)*\n*[Scaling Natural Capital](https://blog.refidao.com/refi-roundup-50/)*\n\n**Impact Metrics** \n\n*Promoting carbon removal:* planted  over **300 native trees** in rural communities and schools \n\n*Rural economy:* onboarding and empowering **indigenous farmers** to grow tree seedlings. \n\n*Promoting Web3:* onboarded and trained over **100 ambassadors** on Web3/ReFi  Skills \n\n*Leadership skill:* empowering ambassadors to independently **lead climate projects** in their local villages \n\n*Climate education:* impacted over **4000 students and youth** on climate awareness & action.\n\n*Collaborative spaces:* hosted **10 virtual and in-real-life community** events with over 5000 attendees. \n\n\n**Our Challenges**\n*Lack of climate change awareness, particularly in rural and underserved communities, with low climate advocacy. [As of 2020, more than six Nigerians out of 10 never heard about climate change](https://www.statista.com/statistics/1269701/knowledge-of-climate-change-topic-in-nigeria-by-area/)*\n*Environmental conservation can be difficult, especially in rural communities that rely on firewood and charcoal to cook their everyday meals*\n*Navigating the complexities of climate science and  Web3 concepts could be challenging for rural communities, highlighting need for ReFi education*\n\n**Opportunities**\nClimate is a multitrillion-dollar opportunity. The global carbon market is estimated at $272 billion, with a 20% annual growth rate. The voluntary carbon market is anticipated to be worth more than $1 billion, growing at 50% annually. [The global impact investing market is estimated at $1.164 trillion](https://www.impactinvest.org.uk/learning-hub/the-impact-investing-market/) \n\nExpanding our impact by onboarding more farmers, environmentalists, and nature lovers to learn about Web3 and ReFi could increase financial opportunities and scale nature-based solutions in Africa\n\n**Core Team Members** \n**[Simon Eze](https://x.com/ezeugosimon)** \nSimon is a ReFi DAO contributor, ReFi Lagos founder, and Climatebase Fellow. He explores the intersection of climate, agriculture, and Web3 use cases in Africa, with 10 years experience in agribusiness and solar equipment distribution in Nigeria.  Simon is an alumni of the Climate Leadership Fellowship (CLF), the Tsinghua University IEDE Program, and ReFi Talents (cohort 1) program by the Frankfurt School Blockchain Centre. **Simon leads **[Project OSISI](https://osisi.earth)**, a grassroots initiative combating deforestation through community-based tree-planting festivals in Africa. \n\n**[Adaeze Okafor](https://x.com/Aida_Regen)** \nAdaeze is a soil scientist passionate about sustainability and innovative climate solutions. She leads **[Project Afrilearn](https://afrilearn.com.ng)** where she trains and onboards a new generation of climate-smart ambassadors who are passionate about sustainability across Africa. Her work blends research, education, and hands-on climate action.  Adaeze is a ReFi DAO contributor, co-founder of ReFiLagos, an alumni of Tsinghua University IEDE Program, SheFi Cohort 10, and ReFi Talents cohort 1.\n\n**[Check out our project activities on Karma Gap](https://gap.karmahq.xyz/project/refi-lagos-community?tab=updates)** \n\n**Support Our Project**\nWallet address: 0xe0150c1c32a0b4f137b32a79376053da3f96ff70  (Supports Celo, Ethereum, Arbitrum One, Optimism, and Base blockchain networks) \n\n**Uses of Fund**\n\n*Support the sourcing and nursing of seedlings at [OSISI pilot garden](tinyurl.com/OSISIGARDEN)*\n*Support climate research bounties. [Check out our previous bounty](https://x.com/ReFiLagos01/status/1875874477487411635)*\n*[Fund the production of Regen Environmental Card Game](https://x.com/Afrilearn1/status/1905215670372999235)*\n*[Support Climate ambassadors / land stewards in leading climate education and action](https://x.com/Atlantis_p2p/status/1869724643856371723)*\n\n**Join Our Community** \n[Join ReFi Lagos telegram group](https://t.me/+zGhwit24SUNkZWJh) to collaborate and share ideas \n\n", "logoImgData": {}, "bannerImgData": {}, "projectTwitter": "ReFiLagos01"}