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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
Many SMEs adopt digital payment and e-commerce tools without understanding basic security practices, exposing them to fraud. Simple, affordable cybersecurity training programs tailored for small businesses could reduce losses.
technology-computing
asia
cybersecurity
small
businesses
digital
awareness
among
growing
economy
remains
global-unspecified
african
low
whether
Governments and businesses often absorb disaster costs directly due to lack of accessible catastrophe insurance products. Regional catastrophe bonds and pooled insurance mechanisms could spread and reduce this risk.
climate-environment
asia
insurance
regional
disaster
risk
markets
remain
underdeveloped
despite
high
climate
global-unspecified
african
philosophy-ethics
whether
haven
Health systems built around infectious disease are not equipped for chronic care, and screening tools are scarce outside cities. Affordable point-of-care diagnostics and community health worker training could close the gap.
health-biology
africa
infectious-disease
non-communicable
diseases
like
diabetes
hypertension
rising
fast
but
underdiagnosed
health
global-unspecified
whether
society-governance
systems
affordable
Most crop research targets temperate climates, leaving African staples like sorghum and cassava under-optimized for drought and heat. More localized plant-breeding research is needed urgently.
climate-environment
africa
african
climate-resilient
seed
varieties
underdeveloped
crops
research
crop
targets
temperate
systems
global-unspecified
technology-computing
resilient
society-governance
Most African cities lack sewage networks, leaving pit latrines and open defecation common even in dense slums. Decentralized fecal sludge treatment startups are an underexplored business opportunity.
local-regional
africa
urban
sanitation
systems
have
not
kept
pace
rapid
city
growth
global-unspecified
african
cities
climate-environment
asia
water
Many African students finish primary school without basic literacy or numeracy due to overcrowded classrooms and undertrained teachers. Structured pedagogy programs paired with teacher-coaching apps show strong results.
social-civic-problems
africa
school
learning
outcomes
remain
low
even
children
enrolled
african
students
might
local
actors
global-unspecified
Chronic underfunding and brain drain limit local scientific contribution despite talent. Diaspora-linked research funding platforms could channel more resources into African institutions.
society-governance
africa
research
university
output
remains
tiny
fraction
total
chronic
global-unspecified
technology-computing
mathematics-logic
philosophy-ethics
african
whether
Most African children under 5 have no access to structured pre-primary learning, affecting long-term cognitive development. Low-cost community-run preschool franchise models could scale quickly.
social-civic-problems
africa
early
childhood
education
coverage
very
low
continent
african
children
under
society-governance
global-unspecified
access
health-biology
development
Traditional banks avoid low-income and rural customers due to high servicing costs, leaving many without savings or credit access. Mobile money platforms have proven the model, but rural agent networks still need expansion.
economics-resources
africa
over
half
population
remains
unbanked
underbanked
rural
traditional
banks
global-unspecified
access
african
urban
asia
low
Different gauges and disconnected networks between countries hinder efficient continental trade. New standard-gauge rail corridors linking regional economies are underway but need faster completion.
local-regional
africa
rail
infrastructure
fragmented
largely
colonial-era
different
gauges
disconnected
networks
climate-environment
african
global-unspecified
countries
remains
asia
society-governance
Most African internet traffic is routed through servers in Europe, increasing latency and costs. Local data center buildouts, especially in underserved regions, present strong infrastructure investment opportunities.
climate-environment
africa
data
infrastructure
centers
cloud
remain
scarce
continent
african
internet
traffic
global-unspecified
technology-computing
society-governance
systems
whether
limited
Rising digitization without matching security investment leaves banks, hospitals, and agencies vulnerable to attacks. Affordable managed cybersecurity services tailored to African SMEs are an underexplored market.
technology-computing
africa
cybersecurity
african
capacity
governments
businesses
underdeveloped
rising
digitization
matching
security
global-unspecified
whether
remains
infrastructure
digital
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
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
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
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
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Transporting fuel and life support reagents from Earth is economically non-viable for sustained settlements. We need robust robotic systems capable of excavating, purifying, and processing icy regolith under extreme thermal conditions.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
in-situ
extraction
refining
water
ice
mars
moon
remains
unproven
scale
systems
society-governance
climate-environment
under
ensuring
real
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Dark energy accounts for roughly 68% of the universe, yet its equation of state and microscopic nature remain complete mysteries. Precise mapping of cosmic expansion over time is crucial for predicting the ultimate fate of space-time.
science-space
global-unspecified
expansion
universe
dark
energy
exact
cause
accelerating
unknown
accounts
roughly
know
understand
mathematics-logic
matter
fully
whether
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
These moons host liquid water oceans under miles of ice, warmed by tidal forces, but we lack robotic tools capable of melting through kilometers of crust to sample liquid water without introducing Earth contamination.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
oceans
moons
not
know
life
exist
sub-surface
icy
like
europa
water
whether
don
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
urban