# Celo Cosmo-Local Credit Network - Season 1 Funding Proposal

**URL:** <https://forum.celo.org/t/celo-cosmo-local-credit-network-season-1-funding-proposal/12257>\
**Category:** Governance Proposals\
**Tags:** funding\
**Created:** [September 2, 2025, 4:50pm UTC](https://forum.celo.org/t/celo-cosmo-local-credit-network-season-1-funding-proposal/12257 "2025-09-02T16:50:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 9

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**Author:** ![ddd](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.celo.org/ddd/32/10683_2.png) [@ddd](https://forum.celo.org/u/ddd)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2025, 10:30pm UTC](https://forum.celo.org/t/celo-cosmo-local-credit-network-season-1-funding-proposal/12257/9 "2025-09-04T22:30:46Z")

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I’m David Dao, co-founder of GainForest and DeepGov - and we fully support this proposal as well as accept the nomination to be part of the Stewardship Council.

This year, [GainForest](https://GainForest.Earth) has had the privilege of partnering closely with **Grassroots Economics** on several initiatives exploring cosmo-local finance and AI-assisted governance tooling (see more on [our blog](https://gainforest.substack.com/p/weaving-culture-and-technology-lessons) post)

We’ve seen firsthand how @WillRuddick@kamikazechaser and the Grassroots Economics team combine deep local experience in **community currency networks** with a rigorous on-chain accountability framework in their work in Kenya. Their approach aligns closely with Celo’s mission: **real-world impact, regenerative economics, and inclusive financial infrastructure** for communities often excluded from traditional finance. There is rarely a more inspiring project in web3 like Grassroots Economics.

At GainForest and [DeepGov](https://deepgov.org) - and together with Grassroots Economics - we’ve been pioneering AI-powered reporting across **43 local communities** and in **three Gitcoin rounds (GG23)**—distributing **over $50K** so far, with **$150K planned for GG24** —to ensure funding disbursements are **transparent, data-driven, and credibly neutral** , making funding flows **auditable and scalable** as adoption grows.

We fully support this proposal because:

1. It creates **local trust networks** connected through Celo’s infrastructure.
2. It leverages **open-source tooling** and public dashboards for transparency.
3. It sets the stage for **sustainability** through community stewardship rather than top-down grants.
4. It aligns with **Celo’s values** as discussed in [Towards Celo’s Cultural Manifesto](https://forum.celo.org/t/towards-celos-cultural-manifesto/11353).

As @rene_celo highlighted in [Celebrating Celo’s Five Years & Vision 2030: A Trillion-Dollar Onchain Economy Built on Celo & a Battle For Crypto’s Soul](https://forum.celo.org/t/celebrating-celo-s-five-years-vision-2030-a-trillion-dollar-onchain-economy-built-on-celo-a-battle-for-crypto-s-soul/11041), Celo is battling for Crypto’s Soul — a time where we need to scale **real-world impact, onchain economies, and regenerative solutions** at a truly global level with a deep consideration of Celo’s values. This proposal is a concrete step toward that vision.

In our view, this is exactly the type of **cosmo-local coordination mechanism** that Celo should be pioneering: local autonomy, global interoperability, and measurable impact.

Therefore, GainForest is proud and excited to continue collaborating with Grassroots Economics, the Stewardship Council, and regional partners to ensure **Season 1** succeeds.

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_[View the full topic](https://forum.celo.org/t/celo-cosmo-local-credit-network-season-1-funding-proposal/12257)._