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
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Pretrial detention is overused. Alternatives and reforms can reduce overcrowding.
social-civic-problems
global-unspecified
overcrowding
prison
poor
conditions
violate
rights
pretrial
detention
overused
alternatives
systems
african
africa
suffer
technology-computing
many
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Abuse and exploitation go undetected. Stronger reporting and support services are needed.
society-governance
global-unspecified
child
protection
systems
under-resourced
abuse
exploitation
undetected
stronger
reporting
support
public
technology-computing
economics-resources
climate-environment
services
governance
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
SDGs require more funding than current flows. Blended finance and innovative instruments can help.
sdg-sustainable-development-goals
global-unspecified
finance
development
volumes
remain
below
estimated
needs
sdgs
require
funding
climate-environment
mechanisms
ensuring
climate
african
society-governance
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Duplication and gaps result. Shared planning platforms can improve alignment.
society-governance
global-unspecified
coordination
among
donors
implementing
agencies
weak
duplication
gaps
result
shared
african
technology-computing
systems
data
across
stress
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Emerging economies could share more know-how. Mechanisms to broker such partnerships can help.
society-governance
global-unspecified
south-south
triangular
cooperation
potential
underused
emerging
economies
share
know-how
mechanisms
african
systems
asia
remains
regional
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Indicators cannot be tracked reliably. Capacity-building and digital tools can strengthen data.
sdg-sustainable-development-goals
global-unspecified
data
systems
sdg
monitoring
incomplete
countries
indicators
cannot
tracked
reliably
society-governance
technology-computing
digital
african
economics-resources
whether
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Roles and accountability can be vague. Partnership governance frameworks can help.
society-governance
global-unspecified
governance
multi-stakeholder
partnerships
often
lack
clear
roles
accountability
vague
partnership
frameworks
models
systems
ensuring
change
use
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Many firms do not align strategies with goals. Incentive structures and reporting norms can improve engagement.
sdg-sustainable-development-goals
global-unspecified
engagement
private-sector
sdgs
uneven
firms
not
align
strategies
goals
incentive
technology-computing
whether
public
african
europe
europe-unspecified
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
IP and capacity barriers constrain diffusion. Facilitation platforms and finance can support transfer.
local-regional
global-unspecified
transfer
technology
developing
countries
remains
limited
capacity
barriers
constrain
diffusion
economics-resources
philosophy-ethics
whether
haven
african
mathematics-logic
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