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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4094Total
4094Open
0Solved
9Humans
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Voices from grassroots groups are underrepresented. Inclusive representation mechanisms are needed.
society-governance
global-unspecified
civil
society
participation
governance
constrained
voices
grassroots
groups
underrepresented
mechanisms
climate-environment
ensuring
development
climate
african
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Contradictory policies undermine progress. Integrated policy reviews can improve coherence.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
policy
coherence
trade
climate
development
agendas
weak
contradictory
policies
undermine
society-governance
institutional
improve
designs
arrangements
relocation
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Growing passenger and cargo flows strain outdated airports and limited direct flight routes between African cities, increasing travel time and cost.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
Smart-city initiatives often launch without robust cybersecurity planning, leaving infrastructure vulnerable to cyber attacks. City-level cyber-resilience frameworks and local incident-response teams are needed.
technology-computing
africa
cybersecurity
african
cities
face
increasing
risks
digitize
public
services
smart-city
society-governance
economics-resources
global-unspecified
infrastructure
urban
systems
Users face friction and fees when sending money between different mobile money ecosystems and across borders, limiting financial integration. Common standards and clearinghouses for mobile payments could reduce barriers.
society-governance
africa
mobile
money
between
interoperability
platforms
african
countries
weak
users
face
global-unspecified
digital
fraud
Smallholder farmers often rely on traditional knowledge rather than timely forecasts, exposing them to avoidable losses. SMS-based localized forecast services and climate advisory platforms could improve resilience.
climate-environment
africa
climate
african
agriculture
lacks
widespread
access
reliable
weather
information
smallholder
global-unspecified
society-governance
methods
improve
institutional
technology-computing
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
Fruit, vegetables, and fish often spoil before reaching international markets due to temperature breaks along the supply chain. Investment in integrated cold-chain infrastructure and IoT monitoring could reduce losses.
economics-resources
africa
supply-chain
cold-chain
logistics
perishable
exports
remain
underdeveloped
fruit
vegetables
fish
african
global-unspecified
cold
chain
local-regional
vaccines
Millions of workers in transport, delivery, and informal retail have no protection against accidents or income shocks. Micro-insurance products linked to daily transactions could extend coverage.
economics-resources
africa
products
informal
workers
insurance
african
gig-economy
participants
rare
millions
transport
settlements
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
local
climate-environment
might
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
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
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
