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
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Choices are driven more by price than impact. Education and labeling can shift behavior.
social-civic-problems
global-unspecified
consumer
awareness
sustainability
remains
limited
choices
driven
price
impact
education
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
access
affordable
way
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Local livelihoods are squeezed. Preferential access and co-management can support them.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
small-scale
fishers
face
competition
industrial
fleets
local
livelihoods
squeezed
preferential
society-governance
african
fast
growing
remains
climate-environment
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Weak monitoring allows IUU operators to thrive. Satellite and AI tools can improve detection.
science-space
global-unspecified
illegal
unreported
unregulated
fishing
remains
pervasive
weak
monitoring
allows
iuu
whether
philosophy-ethics
african
waters
climate-environment
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Trees on farms can improve resilience and biodiversity. Extension services can promote adoption.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
biodiversity
agroforestry
opportunities
underused
trees
farms
improve
resilience
extension
services
african
remains
access
technology-computing
africa
capacity
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Courts are costly and slow. Legal aid and simplified procedures can improve access.
society-governance
global-unspecified
access
justice
limited
low-income
marginalized
groups
courts
costly
slow
legal
remains
african
low
lack
income
affordable
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Grievances and resource competition fuel violence. Inclusive peace processes and development programs can address roots.
social-civic-problems
global-unspecified
violent
conflict
persists
multiple
regions
grievances
resource
competition
fuel
violence
health-biology
remains
access
food
reducing
chronic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Emerging economies could share more know-how. Mechanisms to broker such partnerships can help.
society-governance
global-unspecified
south-south
triangular
cooperation
potential
underused
emerging
economies
share
know-how
mechanisms
african
systems
asia
remains
regional
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
IP and capacity barriers constrain diffusion. Facilitation platforms and finance can support transfer.
local-regional
global-unspecified
transfer
technology
developing
countries
remains
limited
capacity
barriers
constrain
diffusion
economics-resources
philosophy-ethics
whether
haven
african
mathematics-logic
Millions of traders, many of them women, move goods informally across borders without access to finance, insurance, or formal logistics, limiting their growth potential. Digital trade facilitation tools and simplified customs regimes tailored to small traders could unlock inclusive growth.
economics-resources
africa
trade
informal
cross-border
remains
large
but
poorly
supported
traders
african
digital
global-unspecified
technology-computing
access
low
Growing passenger and cargo flows strain outdated airports and limited direct flight routes between African cities, increasing travel time and cost. Investment in regional aviation hubs and open-skies agreements could improve connectivity.
local-regional
africa
regional
connectivity
air
traffic
infrastructure
lag
behind
demand
growing
african
global-unspecified
access
cities
social-civic-problems
remains
asia
Film, music, and gaming sectors are growing rapidly but creators struggle to access capital and global digital platforms to monetize their work. Regional creative-industry funds and rights-management platforms could help scale talent.
technology-computing
africa
african
creative
industries
lack
sufficient
financing
distribution
infrastructure
platforms
film
digital
global-unspecified
remains
economics-resources
access
low
Dependency on imported medicines increases vulnerability to global supply shocks and raises prices. Regional pharma manufacturing hubs and harmonized regulatory standards could improve medicine security.
local-regional
africa
manufacturing
local
pharmaceutical
capacity
remains
limited
dependency
imported
medicines
global-unspecified
african
economics-resources
access
whether
supply
asia
Mortgage products often require formal employment and high down payments that many cannot meet, pushing families into informal housing. Micro-mortgage products and cooperative housing finance could extend access.
economics-resources
africa
housing
access
finance
affordable
limited
low-income
households
products
mortgage
social-civic-problems
global-unspecified
african
informal
remains
low
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
Business owners may have smartphones but lack skills to use accounting, marketing, and inventory apps effectively. Tailored digital-skills training bundled with tools could improve adoption.
technology-computing
africa
digital
tools
african
smes
struggle
adopt
due
low
literacy
business
global-unspecified
remains
lack
whether
access
Fragmented grids and regulatory regimes prevent efficient sharing of electricity between countries, leading to supply imbalances. Harmonized regulations and cross-border transmission projects could unlock benefits.
local-regional
africa
countries
regional
power-pool
integration
african
progressing
slowly
fragmented
grids
regulatory
global-unspecified
asia
remains
society-governance
access
Research outputs rarely translate into commercial products due to weak collaboration structures. Joint R&D centers and innovation clusters could bridge this gap.
society-governance
africa
innovation
african
ecosystems
often
lack
strong
links
between
universities
industry
remains
global-unspecified
research
lag
technology-computing
mathematics-logic
High-pressure startup environments with little support contribute to burnout and depression. Peer-support networks and confidential counseling services for founders could improve wellbeing.
climate-environment
africa
support
access
mental-health
entrepreneurs
limited
high-pressure
startup
environments
little
global-unspecified
african
remains
low
society-governance
economics-resources
lack
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