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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4194Open
0Solved
9Humans
Renters in informal settlements have little recourse against unfair eviction or unsafe conditions due to absent legal frameworks. Simple digital rental-agreement templates and dispute-resolution hotlines could improve tenant protections.
social-civic-problems
asia
informal
legal
protections
urban
housing
markets
often
lack
any
settlements
economics-resources
global-unspecified
society-governance
african
technology-computing
digital
Weak regulatory enforcement lets fake antimalarials and antibiotics reach patients, worsening drug resistance and deaths. Blockchain-based drug verification and stronger customs screening are promising solutions.
health-biology
africa
blockchain
counterfeit
substandard
medicines
circulate
widely
african
markets
drug
weak
regulatory
global-unspecified
whether
philosophy-ethics
haven
economics-resources
Decades of overfarming without replenishment have depleted nutrients, and fertilizer remains too costly for most smallholders. Affordable soil-testing kits and precision fertilizer blending could reverse the trend.
climate-environment
africa
soil
degradation
reducing
crop
yields
continent
fertilizer
decades
overfarming
replenishment
global-unspecified
philosophy-ethics
affordable
whether
way
determine
Agriculture is seen as low-status and low-income work despite employing over half the continent's workforce. Agri-tech startups that make farming profitable and tech-enabled could reverse this trend.
economics-resources
africa
food-security
farming
youth
abandoning
urban
migration
threatening
future
food
security
agriculture
global-unspecified
climate-environment
haven
water
rural
Subsidies often benefit wealthier car owners more than the poor while straining government finances. Data-driven targeted subsidy reform could redirect funds to renewable infrastructure.
society-governance
africa
subsidy
fuel
systems
african
countries
drain
public
budgets
inefficiently
subsidies
global-unspecified
whether
philosophy-ethics
technology-computing
haven
Utilities prioritize dense, profitable urban grids, leaving villages in the dark. Community-owned mini-grid cooperatives offer a scalable rural alternative.
local-regional
africa
rural
urban
electrification
lags
areas
decades
african
countries
utilities
prioritize
access
global-unspecified
remains
asia
climate-environment
haven
Without affordable storage, solar power in Africa cannot run appliances at night or during cloudy periods. Local battery assembly and recycling ventures could lower costs and create jobs.
technology-computing
africa
battery
storage
solar
technology
needed
reliability
largely
imported
expensive
affordable
climate-environment
global-unspecified
whether
economics-resources
haven
power
As solar panels and batteries age, Africa lacks systems to recycle them safely, risking toxic pollution. Formal e-waste recycling startups could turn this into a resource-recovery industry.
climate-environment
africa
e-waste
solar
lacks
recycling
battery
disposal
growing
adoption
proper
infrastructure
waste
global-unspecified
systems
management
haven
african
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
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
Rising borrowing costs and currency depreciation mean debt servicing now consumes large shares of national budgets, crowding out health and education spending. Transparent debt-management dashboards could improve public accountability.
social-civic-problems
africa
public
debt
burdens
african
nations
becoming
unsustainable
rising
borrowing
costs
society-governance
global-unspecified
whether
haven
philosophy-ethics
health-biology
Most households and farms have no protection against disasters, illness, or crop failure, deepening poverty cycles. Micro-insurance products bundled with mobile money could expand coverage rapidly.
economics-resources
africa
insurance
penetration
among
lowest
world
households
farms
have
protection
products
climate-environment
climate
global-unspecified
against
shocks
african
Substandard buildings have collapsed in several African cities, killing residents, due to lax inspection and corrupt permitting. Digital building-permit and inspection tracking systems could improve enforcement.
technology-computing
africa
construction
quality
building
codes
weakly
enforced
risking
disaster
inspection
substandard
global-unspecified
systems
african
digital
climate-environment
whether
Few universities have the compute infrastructure or funding to pursue frontier research in these fields, risking long-term technological dependency. Shared regional compute clusters and diaspora-led research partnerships could help close this gap.
mathematics-logic
africa
research
quantum
investment
lags
far
behind
continents
compute
global-unspecified
society-governance
technology-computing
systems
philosophy-ethics
african
infrastructure
whether
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
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
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
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
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
