Repository of problems worth solving
World Solve is a public institutional repository for identifying real unresolved problems across science, society, health, governance, economics, and local systems. Each entry is intended to be citable, inspectable, and actionable.
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4094Open
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9Humans
Logging, charcoal production, and agricultural expansion are destroying rainforest that regulates regional and global climate. Community-based forest monitoring using satellite and drone imagery could help enforce protections.
climate-environment
africa
deforestation
rates
central
west
remain
among
highest
globally
logging
global-unspecified
forest
science-space
illegal
philosophy-ethics
whether
remote
Overgrazing, deforestation, and reduced rainfall are turning arable land into desert, forcing migration and fueling conflict. Large-scale reforestation efforts like the Great Green Wall need faster, better-funded implementation.
climate-environment
africa
sahel
deforestation
desertification
expanding
displacing
millions
overgrazing
reduced
rainfall
turning
land
prevent
global-unspecified
spreading
housing
economics-resources
Droughts, floods, and cyclones are intensifying across the continent despite Africa's minimal historical carbon footprint. Climate adaptation financing mechanisms tailored to African needs remain underdeveloped.
climate-environment
africa
climate-change
climate
contributes
least
emissions
but
suffers
disproportionately
change
society-governance
mechanisms
methods
global-unspecified
whether
governance
Rapid urban consumption growth has outpaced recycling infrastructure, leaving plastic waste in waterways and streets. Local plastic-to-value recycling startups could turn this waste into a resource.
climate-environment
africa
waste-management
waste
plastic
pollution
overwhelming
african
cities
limited
management
systems
recycling
local
global-unspecified
might
actors
economics-resources
Weak enforcement and high demand for ivory and rhino horn sustain illegal wildlife trade networks. AI-powered camera traps and ranger-support drone systems are improving anti-poaching efforts but need wider deployment.
economics-resources
africa
wildlife
efforts
poaching
continues
threaten
endangered
species
despite
conservation
weak
systems
climate-environment
society-governance
global-unspecified
illegal
philosophy-ethics
Cities like Lagos, Accra, and Dakar are losing land to erosion, threatening homes and economic infrastructure. Nature-based coastal defenses like mangrove restoration are cost-effective but underutilized.
economics-resources
africa
coastal
erosion
cities
infrastructure
rising
seas
threaten
major
african
like
climate-environment
global-unspecified
urban
systems
haven
Weak vehicle emission standards and aging car imports contribute to poor urban air quality, raising respiratory illness rates. Low-cost air-quality sensor networks could inform targeted policy responses.
climate-environment
africa
air-pollution
air
vehicle
pollution
african
cities
worsening
due
emissions
industrial
activity
global-unspecified
urban
quality
asia
remains
Many African countries lack the weather stations and forecasting capacity to warn communities ahead of droughts or floods. Low-cost automated weather stations and mobile alert systems could save lives and crops.
climate-environment
africa
weather
systems
climate
data
early-warning
extreme
remain
sparse
continent
stations
society-governance
technology-computing
global-unspecified
whether
ensuring
real
open
West & Central Africa, Africa
Weak institutions, resource competition, and ethnic tensions continue to trigger instability, displacing millions. Early-warning conflict-monitoring platforms using open-source data could support faster diplomatic intervention.
society-governance
africa
west-central-africa
civil
conflicts
coups
remain
frequent
parts
west
central
weak
data
global-unspecified
institutions
asia
south
african
Allegations of fraud and weak independent oversight undermine public trust in democratic transitions. Blockchain-based or biometric voter verification systems could improve election integrity.
society-governance
africa
blockchain
electoral
processes
several
african
countries
face
credibility
transparency
allegations
fraud
systems
public
technology-computing
across
global-unspecified
Multiple agencies, unclear regulations, and informal fees discourage entrepreneurs from formalizing businesses. One-stop digital business registration portals have cut registration time dramatically where implemented.
society-governance
africa
business
bureaucratic
red
tape
makes
starting
formal
african
countries
slow
reducing
digital
global-unspecified
technology-computing
Understaffed courts leave suspects in pretrial detention for years, undermining justice and overcrowding prisons. Digital case-management systems and virtual hearings could speed up processing significantly.
society-governance
africa
systems
judicial
african
countries
suffer
severe
case
backlogs
understaffed
courts
technology-computing
digital
global-unspecified
whether
ensuring
economics-resources
Weak public financial management means allocated funds for hospitals and schools often go unspent or misdirected. Real-time budget-tracking dashboards accessible to citizens could improve execution rates.
health-biology
africa
public-health
public
allocated
health
education
budgets
frequently
underexecuted
despite
funding
weak
society-governance
global-unspecified
whether
haven
philosophy-ethics
Weak civil registration and statistical systems make policy planning difficult, as governments often lack reliable population and economic data. Mobile-based census and survey tools could modernize data collection affordably.
society-governance
africa
data
economic
basic
demographics
activity
remains
incomplete
continent
weak
civil
systems
global-unspecified
technology-computing
whether
philosophy-ethics
african
Conflict and climate shocks have displaced tens of millions, straining host communities and humanitarian systems. Digital service-delivery platforms for displaced populations could improve aid efficiency.
technology-computing
africa
displaced
populations
refugee
internally
person
among
largest
globally
conflict
global-unspecified
systems
climate-environment
digital
social-civic-problems
whether
african
Customary laws and inheritance practices frequently exclude women from owning the land they farm. Legal-aid apps and digital land-title registries designed for women could improve equity.
technology-computing
africa
women
land
ownership
rates
remain
far
lower
men
african
countries
global-unspecified
society-governance
social-civic-problems
fraud
whether
Poverty and cultural norms push families to marry off daughters early, ending their education and increasing health risks. Conditional cash-transfer programs tied to school attendance have proven effective deterrents.
social-civic-problems
africa
child
marriage
rates
remain
high
several
african
regions
limiting
girls
global-unspecified
health-biology
school
education
economics-resources
access
Lack of accessible infrastructure and negative social attitudes exclude many people with disabilities from education and employment. Affordable assistive-technology startups and inclusive-design mandates could improve access.
social-civic-problems
africa
disability
inclusion
african
workplaces
schools
remains
extremely
limited
lack
accessible
global-unspecified
access
whether
affordable
philosophy-ethics
low
Economies are not creating enough formal jobs to absorb the roughly 10-12 million youth entering the labor market annually. Skills-matching platforms and support for youth-led micro-enterprises are urgently needed.
economics-resources
africa
youth
unemployment
remains
critically
high
despite
young
growing
population
global-unspecified
low
asia
rural
Over 80% of African employment is informal, meaning no pensions, health insurance, or job security for most workers. Digital tools to formalize informal businesses gradually could extend protections without heavy bureaucracy.
society-governance
africa
informal
african
workers
protections
sector
work
dominates
economies
leaving
over
economics-resources
settlements
technology-computing
digital
global-unspecified
mathematics-logic
