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
Graduates often hold certificates that employers don't value, while industries report shortages of specific technical skills. Employer-linked apprenticeship and skills-matching platforms could close this mismatch.
technology-computing
asia
vocational
training
remains
disconnected
actual
job
market
demand
graduates
economics-resources
global-unspecified
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
resolved
way
open
South & Central Asia, Asia
Girls in some regions face early dropout due to safety concerns, marriage pressure, or lack of female teachers. Girls-only transport programs and female-teacher recruitment incentives can improve retention.
social-civic-problems
asia
south-central-asia
gender
gaps
education
persist
parts
south
central
girls
some
global-unspecified
african
remains
access
rural
Urban private schools vastly outperform rural public schools in resources and outcomes, deepening long-term inequality. Digital learning platforms optimized for low-bandwidth rural connections could help level the field.
technology-computing
asia
rural-urban
disparities
school
quality
remain
stark
schools
rural
urban
access
social-civic-problems
remains
african
digital
global-unspecified
economics-resources
Lack of trained teachers and computer labs keeps rural students from developing skills needed for tech careers. Mobile coding labs and free online curricula in local languages could expand access.
social-civic-problems
asia
coding
students
stem
education
remains
inaccessible
outside
major
asian
cities
access
global-unspecified
african
rural
low
africa
Overproduction of certain degree holders, like general arts graduates, leaves many educated youth unemployed or underemployed. Career-guidance platforms using labor-market data could steer students toward in-demand fields.
economics-resources
asia
youth
several
asian
countries
face
severe
mismatch
between
degrees
earned
global-unspecified
africa
remains
low
young
unemployment
open
South & Southeast Asia, Asia
Poverty forces families to send children to work instead of school, particularly in informal manufacturing and agriculture sectors. Conditional cash-transfer programs tied to school attendance have proven effective at reducing this.
economics-resources
asia
south-southeast-asia
school
children
child
labor
continues
keep
millions
asian
out
poverty
social-civic-problems
global-unspecified
education
girls
remain
Rapid expansion of universities has sometimes outpaced faculty quality and research infrastructure investment. Stronger accreditation systems and research-funding reform could improve academic standards.
social-civic-problems
asia
systems
quality
research
higher
education
parts
struggle
assurance
output
society-governance
technology-computing
climate-environment
economics-resources
global-unspecified
mathematics-logic
philosophy-ethics
open
South & Southeast Asia, Asia
Conflict-displaced populations, such as Rohingya refugees, frequently live for years without structured schooling options. Modular, portable classroom programs designed for refugee camps could restore learning continuity.
social-civic-problems
asia
south-southeast-asia
refugee
displaced
children
parts
often
lack
any
access
formal
global-unspecified
education
african
low
remains
As economies digitize quickly, many mid-career and older workers risk being left behind without basic digital skills training. Community-based digital literacy programs targeting adult learners could ease this transition.
social-civic-problems
asia
digital
literacy
older
workers
economies
among
rapidly
digitizing
remains
technology-computing
global-unspecified
african
access
economics-resources
low
Cultural norms and lack of documentation keep many women and rural residents outside the formal banking system. Mobile-money platforms designed with simplified KYC for underserved groups have proven effective elsewhere.
economics-resources
asia
women
rural
financial
inclusion
gaps
persist
populations
cultural
norms
access
african
global-unspecified
remains
digital
social-civic-problems
urban
open
South & Southeast Asia, Asia
Traditional banks avoid lending to businesses without physical assets to pledge, leaving many viable small enterprises unable to grow. Alternative credit scoring using transaction and mobile data could unlock lending.
economics-resources
asia
south-southeast-asia
lending
small
business
south
southeast
remains
constrained
collateral
requirements
mathematics-logic
might
local
actors
global-unspecified
africa
Easy consumer credit access without matching financial literacy is pushing many families into unsustainable debt cycles. Financial literacy apps integrated with lending platforms could reduce default risk.
technology-computing
asia
debt
household
levels
rising
rapidly
several
fast-growing
asian
economies
financial
global-unspecified
haven
african
social-civic-problems
remains
whether
Workers from countries like the Philippines, India, and Bangladesh lose significant income to transfer fees sending money home. Blockchain-based remittance corridors could dramatically cut these costs.
technology-computing
asia
india
blockchain
remittance
costs
workers
cross-border
remain
high
millions
asian
migrant
countries
economics-resources
global-unspecified
informal
african
Farmers and small traders often turn to predatory informal lenders charging extremely high interest rates due to lack of formal alternatives. Digital microfinance platforms with fair rates could displace exploitative lending.
economics-resources
asia
south-asia
informal
moneylenders
dominate
rural
credit
markets
parts
south
rates
settlements
african
digital
global-unspecified
access
technology-computing
open
South & Southeast Asia, Asia
Frequent floods, cyclones, and earthquakes devastate uninsured households and businesses repeatedly. Parametric disaster insurance triggered by weather data could speed up payouts and expand coverage.
climate-environment
asia
south-southeast-asia
insurance
disaster
penetration
climate
risk
remains
very
low
south
southeast
global-unspecified
african
whether
haven
philosophy-ethics
Most informal workers have no employer-based retirement savings, risking poverty in old age as populations age rapidly. Portable, mobile-based voluntary pension schemes could extend coverage to gig and informal workers.
economics-resources
asia
informal
retirement
pension
coverage
inadequate
large
workforce
workers
age
settlements
mathematics-logic
local
might
actors
global-unspecified
african
Entrepreneurs outside cities like Bangalore, Jakarta, or Singapore struggle to access venture capital networks. Regional angel-investor networks and remote due-diligence tools could spread funding more evenly.
local-regional
asia
singapore
funding
startup
remains
concentrated
few
major
asian
tech
hubs
leaving
global-unspecified
african
access
africa
urban
Rapid fintech growth has outpaced consumer education and fraud-detection infrastructure in several markets. AI-based real-time fraud detection tailored to regional transaction patterns is an urgent need.
social-civic-problems
asia
fraud
digital
payment
rising
mobile
money
adoption
accelerates
rapid
african
global-unspecified
remains
technology-computing
africa
Some countries maintain strict currency controls that slow down cross-border business transactions and investment. Regional trade-finance platforms compatible with multiple regulatory regimes could ease friction.
economics-resources
asia
currency
regional
capital
control
restrictions
complicate
trade
financing
parts
african
africa
global-unspecified
remains
local-regional
countries
access
Cities like Manila, Jakarta, and Mumbai rank among the world's most congested, costing billions in lost time and fuel. Integrated mass-transit expansion and smart traffic-management systems are urgently needed.
economics-resources
asia
traffic
congestion
asian
megacities
causes
massive
economic
productivity
losses
cities
african
systems
urban
global-unspecified
climate-environment
infrastructure
