World Solve

growing risk of mass species extinction remains one of the most urgent challenges of our time. Systems currently in place are inadequate for the scale and complexity of the problem. A successful approach must work where resources are scarcest and demonstrate clear, measurable results. It should identify possible harms, respect local agency, and show how the solution can be maintained and expanded by the communities it is meant to serve.

Addressing widespread destruction of wildlife habitats is critical for achieving the 2030 Agenda. Current efforts fall short in scale, speed and equity, leaving the most vulnerable behind. Any viable solution must function in low-resource settings with limited specialists, transport, laboratory capacity and broadband. Proposals should specify quantifiable biological, social or environmental outcomes, openly discuss potential risks, and present a realistic pathway for long-term maintenance and local ownership beyond short research pilots.

The problem of dangerous levels of air pollution in cities continues to affect hundreds of millions of people and undermines progress on multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Existing responses remain fragmented, under-resourced and poorly adapted to local contexts. A strong solution must operate effectively under severe constraints of skilled personnel, infrastructure, electricity and connectivity. It should define clear measurable outcomes, identify possible unintended harms, and demonstrate how the intervention can be sustained by local institutions long after initial funding ends.

housing that remains unaffordable for ordinary families remains one of the most urgent challenges of our time. Systems currently in place are inadequate for the scale and complexity of the problem. A successful approach must work where resources are scarcest and demonstrate clear, measurable results. It should identify possible harms, respect local agency, and show how the solution can be maintained and expanded by the communities it is meant to serve.

The problem of mass unemployment and underemployment continues to affect hundreds of millions of people and undermines progress on multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Existing responses remain fragmented, under-resourced and poorly adapted to local contexts. A strong solution must operate effectively under severe constraints of skilled personnel, infrastructure, electricity and connectivity. It should define clear measurable outcomes, identify possible unintended harms, and demonstrate how the intervention can be sustained by local institutions long after initial funding ends.

The problem of unequal treatment of boys and girls in schools and homes continues to affect hundreds of millions of people and undermines progress on multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Existing responses remain fragmented, under-resourced and poorly adapted to local contexts. A strong solution must operate effectively under severe constraints of skilled personnel, infrastructure, electricity and connectivity. It should define clear measurable outcomes, identify possible unintended harms, and demonstrate how the intervention can be sustained by local institutions long after initial funding ends.

The problem of lack of clean and safe drinking water continues to affect hundreds of millions of people and undermines progress on multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Existing responses remain fragmented, under-resourced and poorly adapted to local contexts. A strong solution must operate effectively under severe constraints of skilled personnel, infrastructure, electricity and connectivity. It should define clear measurable outcomes, identify possible unintended harms, and demonstrate how the intervention can be sustained by local institutions long after initial funding ends.

The problem of children going to bed hungry every night continues to affect hundreds of millions of people and undermines progress on multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Existing responses remain fragmented, under-resourced and poorly adapted to local contexts. A strong solution must operate effectively under severe constraints of skilled personnel, infrastructure, electricity and connectivity. It should define clear measurable outcomes, identify possible unintended harms, and demonstrate how the intervention can be sustained by local institutions long after initial funding ends.

Women in formal-sector jobs in Peru continue to earn less than men in comparable roles, and current pay-transparency requirements are too weak to be enforced effectively.

Attackers can automatically test massive numbers of previously leaked username and password combinations across many websites to find accounts where the same credentials still work. Reducing the effectiveness of this widespread technique remains an unresolved security challenge.

Automated bots can purchase limited-availability products, from sneakers to concert tickets, within seconds, leaving genuine customers with little realistic chance to buy at retail prices. Effective, consistent bot prevention remains an unresolved e-commerce challenge.

Achieving institutional arrangements that improve the effectiveness of international environmental agreements at meaningful scale demands simultaneous progress in fundamental research, engineering integration and socio-technical systems that work for low- and middle-income settings. Existing efforts remain fragmented relative to the magnitude of the challenge.

Employee behavior remains one of the most common causes of security breaches, yet many small businesses lack the resources for regular, effective cybersecurity training. Scaling affordable, effective training globally remains an unresolved practical challenge.

Robocalls and spam calls continue to reach users despite various blocking technologies, partly because scammers can spoof caller information and operate across international boundaries where enforcement is inconsistent. A fully effective, universal solution remains unbuilt.

Despite improved detection tools, non-consensual intimate images can still spread quickly across platforms before removal, causing lasting harm to victims. Faster, more comprehensive detection and removal systems remain an urgent unmet need.

Existing assistive navigation tools for blind and visually impaired users remain limited in accuracy and are often too expensive for widespread daily use. A truly reliable, affordable solution remains an unmet accessibility need.

Scammers can now use AI to generate convincing images of products that don't exist or don't match what's actually shipped, making it harder for shoppers to identify fraudulent listings. Detection tools on marketplaces remain inconsistently effective.

Age verification systems designed to protect minors from inappropriate content often require handing over sensitive personal information, creating a tradeoff between child safety and privacy for all users. A method that achieves both effectively remains unresolved.

Scammers increasingly use AI to generate convincing fake job postings and interview processes designed to steal personal information or money from desperate job seekers. Platforms are still catching up to detect and remove these scams effectively.

Consumer-grade detection tools for hidden surveillance devices remain unreliable and often expensive, leaving many people vulnerable to covert monitoring in their own homes or workplaces. Making effective detection accessible to everyday consumers remains unresolved.