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
Antarctica / Unspecified, Antarctica
Antarctic systems underpin climate regulation and biodiversity, but their economic and non-market value is rarely quantified. Valuation tools and decision-support models could elevate their importance in policy.
climate-environment
antarctica
antarctica-unspecified
biodiversity
value
lack
robust
frameworks
assessing
ecosystem
services
antarctic
systems
society-governance
methods
climate
global-unspecified
whether
open
South America / Unspecified, South America
A large share of workers lack formal contracts, social protection, and stable incomes, undermining productivity and tax bases. Digital formalisation pathways and portable social-benefit platforms can improve inclusion.
economics-resources
south-america
south-america-unspecified
informal
employment
dominates
labour
markets
south
america
variant
focuses
data
technology-computing
african
digital
global-unspecified
europe
open
Europe / Unspecified, Europe
Pension and healthcare costs rise as the working-age population shrinks, forcing reforms in labour markets and social protection. Modelling tools and policy pilots for sustainable welfare redesign are needed.
society-governance
europe
europe-unspecified
welfare
ageing
populations
low
birth
rates
strain
european
systems
pension
global-unspecified
african
economics-resources
social
technology-computing
open
Europe / Unspecified, Europe
Pension and healthcare costs rise as the working-age population shrinks, forcing reforms in labour markets and social protection. Modelling tools and policy pilots for sustainable welfare redesign are needed.
society-governance
europe
europe-unspecified
welfare
ageing
populations
low
birth
rates
strain
european
systems
variant
data
african
global-unspecified
infrastructure
climate-environment
open
Europe / Unspecified, Europe
Skills in digital, green, and care sectors outpace education outputs, creating unfilled vacancies. Pan-European skills-matching and micro-credentialing platforms can align supply and demand.
economics-resources
europe
europe-unspecified
labour
market
mismatches
leave
european
employers
shortages
while
youth
face
remains
technology-computing
digital
open
Europe / Unspecified, Europe
Europe produces strong scientific research but struggles to grow globally dominant tech firms due to fragmented markets and risk-averse capital. Cross-border venture networks and translational research platforms can bridge the gap.
economics-resources
europe
europe-unspecified
tech
innovation
ecosystems
lag
frontrunners
scaling
deep
variant
data
african
society-governance
global-unspecified
technology-computing
infrastructure
research
open
Europe / Unspecified, Europe
Intermittent generation and new demand patterns strain legacy infrastructure. Grid-digitalisation and flexibility-market platforms offer major opportunities.
technology-computing
europe
europe-unspecified
energy
grids
need
significant
upgrades
integrate
renewables
cross-border
flows
systems
global-unspecified
african
data
infrastructure
climate-environment
open
Europe / Unspecified, Europe
Extreme events cause health impacts and infrastructure damage, testing adaptation plans. Urban heat and flood-risk modelling tools plus nature-based solution marketplaces can support responses.
climate-environment
europe
europe-unspecified
climate-change
flooding
heatwaves
driven
climate
change
increasingly
hit
european
cities
extreme
society-governance
urban
governance
african
open
Europe / Unspecified, Europe
Large parts of the workforce lack the advanced skills needed for emerging sectors. Regional upskilling platforms and employer-linked training marketplaces can close gaps.
technology-computing
europe
europe-unspecified
digital
skills
gaps
hinder
green
transitions
large
parts
workforce
african
global-unspecified
society-governance
remains
economics-resources
access
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Low farm-gate prices and lack of bargaining power keep farmer incomes below subsistence levels. Producer cooperatives and transparent digital marketplaces can improve prices.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
incomes
smallholder
farmers
struggle
earn
living
food
production
prices
low
african
technology-computing
lack
digital
access
climate-environment
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Low-income neighborhoods lack access to affordable, healthy food retail. Community-supported agriculture and mobile markets can improve access.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
food
urban
deserts
persist
even
middle-income
countries
access
low-income
neighborhoods
african
remains
low
lack
climate-environment
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Curricula lag behind changing economies, leading to skill mismatches. Employer-informed vocational programs and agile curriculum updates are needed.
social-civic-problems
global-unspecified
education
systems
often
fail
equip
youth
labor-market
relevant
skills
curricula
economics-resources
society-governance
training
prepare
remains
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Workers lack contracts, benefits, and protections. Gradual formalization and portable benefits can strengthen security.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
informal
employment
dominates
labor
markets
countries
benefits
workers
lack
contracts
worker
african
protection
gig
society-governance
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
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
Owning machinery is too expensive, and rental markets are fragmented and unreliable. Uber-style machinery-sharing platforms could increase mechanization at lower cost.
economics-resources
africa
mechanization
african
farmers
have
limited
access
services
owning
machinery
too
global-unspecified
remains
lack
technology-computing
low
urban
open
Sahel & Horn of Africa, Africa
Mobile coverage and services often bypass nomadic populations, limiting access to markets and services. Tailored mobile solutions and satellite connectivity could include them.
science-space
africa
sahel-horn-of-africa
african
pastoralist
communities
face
digital
exclusion
mobile
services
coverage
often
access
social-civic-problems
economics-resources
society-governance
technology-computing
Limited safe transport options restrict access to markets, health facilities, and education. Women-focused transport cooperatives and safe-ride services could ease constraints.
social-civic-problems
africa
transport
constraints
women
african
rural
areas
face
mobility
limited
safe
access
global-unspecified
remains
low
urban
economics-resources
Small workshops producing goods for local markets struggle to meet quality standards that would allow them to export or supply larger buyers. Shared testing labs and quality-training hubs could upgrade clusters.
economics-resources
africa
clusters
quality
african
informal
manufacturing
lack
access
control
certification
small
global-unspecified
remains
asia
Informal miners face high accident risks and receive low prices for minerals. Training programs and fair-trade mineral certification platforms could improve safety and incomes.
economics-resources
africa
miners
african
artisanal
lack
access
safe
mining
practices
markets
informal
global-unspecified
remains
asia
urban