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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4194Total
4194Open
0Solved
9Humans
Low salaries, limited research funding, and weak infrastructure drive academics to migrate abroad. Diaspora-linked visiting-professor programs and research-grant platforms could strengthen retention.
social-civic-problems
africa
african
higher-education
institutions
struggle
retain
top
faculty
low
salaries
limited
global-unspecified
remains
technology-computing
society-governance
access
systems
Wheelchairs, hearing aids, and screen readers are often unaffordable or unavailable, restricting mobility and employment. Local manufacturing and inclusive design startups could expand access.
economics-resources
africa
access
assistive
technologies
people
disabilities
remains
extremely
limited
wheelchairs
global-unspecified
african
social-civic-problems
low
affordable
inclusive
whether
People with disabilities and the elderly struggle to use buses and trains due to design and boarding barriers. Inclusive transport design standards and retrofitting funds could enhance accessibility.
society-governance
africa
public-transport
transport
accessibility
african
public
systems
frequently
lack
features
design
people
social-civic-problems
inclusive
global-unspecified
access
technology-computing
Students learn science mostly from textbooks without experiments, weakening STEM skills. Low-cost lab kits and mobile science vans could bring hands-on learning to rural schools.
social-civic-problems
africa
science
rural
schools
lab
african
lack
access
equipment
students
learn
remains
global-unspecified
urban
low
First 1,000-day programs that improve long-term outcomes are not widely available. Community-based early-childhood centers with nutrition and parenting support could fill the gap.
social-civic-problems
africa
early-childhood
access
quality
interventions
vulnerable
african
children
sparse
first
000-day
low
global-unspecified
improve
society-governance
remains
open
Sahel & Horn of Africa, Africa
Mobile coverage and services often bypass nomadic populations, limiting access to markets and services. Tailored mobile solutions and satellite connectivity could include them.
science-space
africa
sahel-horn-of-africa
african
pastoralist
communities
face
digital
exclusion
mobile
services
coverage
often
access
social-civic-problems
economics-resources
society-governance
technology-computing
Pretrial detention and harsh conditions contribute to recidivism rather than reintegration. Alternative sentencing and vocational training programs could improve outcomes.
economics-resources
africa
programs
african
prisons
suffer
overcrowding
poor
rehabilitation
pretrial
detention
harsh
global-unspecified
access
remains
social-civic-problems
training
education
Limited safe transport options restrict access to markets, health facilities, and education. Women-focused transport cooperatives and safe-ride services could ease constraints.
social-civic-problems
africa
transport
constraints
women
african
rural
areas
face
mobility
limited
safe
access
global-unspecified
remains
low
urban
economics-resources
Tourism revenue often bypasses nearby communities, limiting support for conservation. Community-owned tourism enterprises and transparent revenue-sharing mechanisms could improve inclusion.
social-civic-problems
africa
tourism
communities
african
wildlife
circuits
poorly
connected
local
benefit
revenue
economics-resources
society-governance
remote
island
coastal
mountain
Short-term grants limit long-term impact and organizational stability. Recurring-donation platforms and social-impact bonds could provide more stable support.
society-governance
africa
african
youth-led
civic
organizations
often
lack
sustainable
funding
short-term
grants
global-unspecified
remains
technology-computing
long
term
economics-resources
Depression and anxiety are widely underreported due to social taboos, leaving many untreated for years. Anonymous digital counseling platforms tailored to local languages could lower the barrier to seeking help.
technology-computing
asia
mental-health
seeking
mental
health
stigma
asian
cultures
prevents
people
care
depression
health-biology
global-unspecified
access
remains
african
Despite economic growth, poor maternal nutrition and inadequate diets leave nearly a third of children stunted in countries like India. Fortified food distribution and mobile nutrition-tracking for at-risk households could help.
economics-resources
asia
india
children
malnutrition
stunting
remain
widespread
among
south
despite
economic
global-unspecified
health-biology
social-civic-problems
food
child
philosophy-ethics
Out-of-pocket medical expenses remain extremely high in countries without universal coverage, forcing families to sell assets during health crises. Affordable micro-health-insurance products could reduce this financial shock.
economics-resources
asia
families
healthcare
costs
driving
millions
asian
poverty
each
year
out-of-pocket
global-unspecified
health-biology
african
health
social-civic-problems
affordable
Inadequate cold storage and warehousing cause spoilage of fruits, vegetables, and grains before reaching markets. Modular solar cold-storage units are a scalable rural business opportunity.
social-civic-problems
asia
storage
post-harvest
losses
remain
high
southeast
south
inadequate
cold
climate-environment
rural
economics-resources
energy
global-unspecified
african
remains
Slum residents often rely on illegal, unsafe electricity connections due to lack of formal grid access. Pay-as-you-go solar kits designed for dense urban informal housing could offer safer alternatives.
social-civic-problems
asia
access
informal
urban
energy
settlements
asian
megacities
remains
inconsistent
slum
global-unspecified
african
economics-resources
society-governance
systems
Overcrowded classrooms, underpaid teachers, and pandemic-era learning loss have left millions behind grade level. Structured foundational literacy programs paired with teacher coaching apps have shown strong results.
social-civic-problems
asia
south-asia
learning
poverty
widespread
south
children
cannot
read
age
have
global-unspecified
low
access
african
philosophy-ethics
whether
open
South & Central Asia, Asia
Girls in some regions face early dropout due to safety concerns, marriage pressure, or lack of female teachers. Girls-only transport programs and female-teacher recruitment incentives can improve retention.
social-civic-problems
asia
south-central-asia
gender
gaps
education
persist
parts
south
central
girls
some
global-unspecified
african
remains
access
rural
Urban private schools vastly outperform rural public schools in resources and outcomes, deepening long-term inequality. Digital learning platforms optimized for low-bandwidth rural connections could help level the field.
technology-computing
asia
rural-urban
disparities
school
quality
remain
stark
schools
rural
urban
access
social-civic-problems
remains
african
digital
global-unspecified
economics-resources
Lack of trained teachers and computer labs keeps rural students from developing skills needed for tech careers. Mobile coding labs and free online curricula in local languages could expand access.
social-civic-problems
asia
coding
students
stem
education
remains
inaccessible
outside
major
asian
cities
access
global-unspecified
african
rural
low
africa
open
South & Southeast Asia, Asia
Poverty forces families to send children to work instead of school, particularly in informal manufacturing and agriculture sectors. Conditional cash-transfer programs tied to school attendance have proven effective at reducing this.
economics-resources
asia
south-southeast-asia
school
children
child
labor
continues
keep
millions
asian
out
poverty
social-civic-problems
global-unspecified
education
girls
remain