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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9Humans
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
Aging infrastructure and illegal connections cause massive revenue leakage for power companies, discouraging investment. Smart metering and blockchain-based billing systems could reduce losses significantly.
technology-computing
africa
blockchain
losses
grid
electricity
theft
cost
african
utilities
billions
annually
aging
systems
local-regional
society-governance
global-unspecified
transmission
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
Unregulated borehole drilling for agriculture and cities is drawing down aquifers faster than they recharge. Satellite-based groundwater monitoring tools could inform sustainable extraction limits.
science-space
africa
groundwater
depletion
threatens
long-term
water
security
several
regions
unregulated
borehole
climate-environment
global-unspecified
urban
asia
whether
long
Informal settlements often sit in floodplains, and drainage infrastructure has not scaled with urban growth. Low-cost flood-mapping and early-warning apps could reduce casualties.
climate-environment
africa
drainage
flooding
african
cities
worsening
due
poor
unplanned
settlement
informal
urban
settlements
society-governance
global-unspecified
systems
economics-resources
Lake Victoria and other water bodies suffer from algal blooms and declining fish stocks due to unregulated pollution. Affordable water-quality sensors could enable community-led monitoring and enforcement.
climate-environment
africa
industrial
agricultural
runoff
polluting
african
lakes
rivers
lake
victoria
global-unspecified
water
whether
philosophy-ethics
pollution
near
affordable
Aging pipe networks and poor maintenance waste water that cities desperately need. Leak-detection sensor startups and IoT-based monitoring could recover significant volumes.
climate-environment
africa
water
cities
utilities
african
lose
over
treated
leaks
aging
pipe
global-unspecified
urban
asia
whether
systems
don
Traditional grazing routes are drying up, fueling conflict between herders and farmers over remaining water points. Solar-powered water-point mapping and rotational grazing platforms could ease tensions.
technology-computing
africa
sahel
water
access
pastoralist
communities
shrinking
due
desertification
grazing
traditional
routes
global-unspecified
climate-environment
urban
african
asia
Over 90 million children are not enrolled in school, driven by poverty, conflict, and distance to schools. Low-cost offline-capable e-learning tablets could reach remote learners cheaply.
economics-resources
africa
children
has
world
highest
rate
out-of-school
over
million
not
social-civic-problems
global-unspecified
education
low
school
remain
asia
Many African students finish primary school without basic literacy or numeracy due to overcrowded classrooms and undertrained teachers. Structured pedagogy programs paired with teacher-coaching apps show strong results.
social-civic-problems
africa
school
learning
outcomes
remain
low
even
children
enrolled
african
students
might
local
actors
global-unspecified
Many graduates lack skills employers want, while industries report shortages in trades like welding and electrical work. Employer-linked apprenticeship platforms could bridge this skills gap.
economics-resources
africa
technical
vocational
training
mismatched
actual
labor
market
needs
skills
graduates
demand
remains
technology-computing
global-unspecified
aligning
whether
Chronic underfunding and brain drain limit local scientific contribution despite talent. Diaspora-linked research funding platforms could channel more resources into African institutions.
society-governance
africa
research
university
output
remains
tiny
fraction
total
chronic
global-unspecified
technology-computing
mathematics-logic
philosophy-ethics
african
whether
open
United States, North America
Menstrual hygiene management gaps and long, unsafe commutes push girls out of the education system permanently. Affordable reusable sanitary pad manufacturing and school-proximity boarding models can help retention.
social-civic-problems
north-america
united-states
girls
out
sanitary
regions
drop
school
puberty
due
lack
products
secondary
reducing
education
global-unspecified
african
Without connectivity, students cannot access digital learning resources that could supplement scarce textbooks and teachers. Low-orbit satellite internet and community Wi-Fi hubs are emerging fixes.
social-civic-problems
africa
internet
connectivity
schools
remains
rare
outside
major
cities
students
cannot
digital
access
technology-computing
global-unspecified
inclusive
african
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
Without hands-on science and coding exposure, students struggle to compete in tech-driven economies. Portable lab kits and shared community coding hubs could democratize access.
social-civic-problems
africa
stem
education
infrastructure
like
labs
computers
scarce
african
schools
coding
access
global-unspecified
remains
students
rural
urban
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
