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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
Migrant workers sending money home lose a large share to transfer fees, reducing funds available for families. Blockchain-based remittance corridors could cut costs to a fraction of current rates.
technology-computing
africa
blockchain
remittance
fees
sent
highest
any
region
migrant
workers
economics-resources
reducing
global-unspecified
transfer
diaspora
communities
countries
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
Few companies list on local stock exchanges, limiting options for businesses to raise growth capital domestically. Regional stock exchange integration could deepen liquidity and attract more investors.
local-regional
africa
capital
markets
african
countries
shallow
illiquid
stock
few
companies
list
remains
global-unspecified
regional
asia
economics-resources
integration
Nearly a third of rural Africans live more than 2km from an all-season road, isolating farmers from buyers. Low-cost road-building techniques and community-maintained feeder roads could improve access.
economics-resources
africa
road
rural
networks
connecting
african
communities
markets
remain
poorly
developed
access
remains
global-unspecified
urban
service
public
Slow customs processing and outdated equipment at major ports add days of delay and cost to imports and exports. Digital single-window customs systems could sharply cut clearance times.
economics-resources
africa
cost
port
congestion
inefficiency
raise
african
trade
significantly
customs
slow
systems
society-governance
digital
many
global-unspecified
High data costs limit access to online education, jobs, and business tools for lower-income users. Local infrastructure investment and spectrum-sharing policies could bring prices down.
economics-resources
africa
mobile
internet
remains
among
expensive
relative
income
worldwide
high
global-unspecified
african
technology-computing
whether
access
infrastructure
philosophy-ethics
Many skilled developers leave for remote jobs abroad or emigrate entirely due to limited local opportunities. Africa-focused tech hubs and outsourcing platforms could retain more talent domestically.
economics-resources
africa
tech
talent
local
jobs
pipeline
outpaces
number
high-quality
available
african
global-unspecified
remains
remote
society-governance
research
technology-computing
Without reliable ID systems, citizens struggle to access banking, healthcare, and government services. Interoperable biometric ID platforms, if privacy-protected, could unlock major efficiency gains.
technology-computing
africa
systems
digital
identity
african
countries
incomplete
fragmented
reliable
citizens
struggle
society-governance
global-unspecified
climate-environment
economics-resources
whether
philosophy-ethics
Overgrazing, deforestation, and reduced rainfall are turning arable land into desert, forcing migration and fueling conflict. Large-scale reforestation efforts like the Great Green Wall need faster, better-funded implementation.
climate-environment
africa
sahel
deforestation
desertification
expanding
displacing
millions
overgrazing
reduced
rainfall
turning
land
prevent
global-unspecified
spreading
housing
economics-resources
Rapid urban consumption growth has outpaced recycling infrastructure, leaving plastic waste in waterways and streets. Local plastic-to-value recycling startups could turn this waste into a resource.
climate-environment
africa
waste-management
waste
plastic
pollution
overwhelming
african
cities
limited
management
systems
recycling
local
global-unspecified
might
actors
economics-resources
Weak enforcement and high demand for ivory and rhino horn sustain illegal wildlife trade networks. AI-powered camera traps and ranger-support drone systems are improving anti-poaching efforts but need wider deployment.
economics-resources
africa
wildlife
efforts
poaching
continues
threaten
endangered
species
despite
conservation
weak
systems
climate-environment
society-governance
global-unspecified
illegal
philosophy-ethics
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
open
West & Central Africa, Africa
Weak institutions, resource competition, and ethnic tensions continue to trigger instability, displacing millions. Early-warning conflict-monitoring platforms using open-source data could support faster diplomatic intervention.
society-governance
africa
west-central-africa
civil
conflicts
coups
remain
frequent
parts
west
central
weak
data
global-unspecified
institutions
asia
south
african
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
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
Economies are not creating enough formal jobs to absorb the roughly 10-12 million youth entering the labor market annually. Skills-matching platforms and support for youth-led micro-enterprises are urgently needed.
economics-resources
africa
youth
unemployment
remains
critically
high
despite
young
growing
population
global-unspecified
low
asia
rural
Over 80% of African employment is informal, meaning no pensions, health insurance, or job security for most workers. Digital tools to formalize informal businesses gradually could extend protections without heavy bureaucracy.
society-governance
africa
informal
african
workers
protections
sector
work
dominates
economies
leaving
over
economics-resources
settlements
technology-computing
digital
global-unspecified
mathematics-logic
Non-tariff barriers, poor infrastructure, and weak logistics keep most African trade oriented toward external partners rather than neighbors. Digital trade-facilitation platforms could help small businesses navigate cross-border commerce.
technology-computing
africa
trade
intra-african
remains
far
below
its
potential
despite
afcfta
agreement
digital
african
global-unspecified
infrastructure
economics-resources
access
Exporting unprocessed oil, minerals, and crops instead of finished goods leaves economies vulnerable to price swings and limits job creation. Local value-addition industries in manufacturing and processing offer higher and more stable returns.
economics-resources
africa
economies
resource-rich
african
remain
overly
dependent
raw
commodity
exports
exporting
global-unspecified
climate-environment
supply
local
asia
pathways
Most remittance money goes to consumption rather than business or infrastructure investment, missing a huge development opportunity. Diaspora investment bonds and startup co-investment platforms could redirect some of these flows productively.
economics-resources
africa
investment
diaspora
remittances
though
large
rarely
channeled
productive
local
remittance
infrastructure
african
global-unspecified
technology-computing
autonomous
remains
