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
Asset management relies on manual surveys. Remote sensing and digital twins can improve planning.
technology-computing
global-unspecified
data
infrastructure
condition
outdated
asset
management
relies
manual
surveys
remote
digital
african
systems
society-governance
urban
informal
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Heavy industry is hard to abate. R&D into low-carbon industrial processes is critical.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
industrial
emissions
remain
high
clear
decarbonization
pathways
heavy
industry
hard
society-governance
fast
growing
economics-resources
achieving
towns
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Slum residents lack secure tenure, water, and sanitation. Upgrading programs and tenure regularization can improve conditions.
society-governance
global-unspecified
informal
settlements
continue
grow
basic
services
tenure
slum
residents
lack
economics-resources
african
urban
social-civic-problems
systems
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Car-centric planning causes gridlock and accidents. Mass transit and safe walking-cycling infrastructure are needed.
society-governance
global-unspecified
urban
transport
systems
congested
unsafe
car-centric
planning
causes
gridlock
accidents
public
technology-computing
climate-environment
african
cities
without
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Street vendors and informal services go uncounted. Inclusive data collection can inform policy.
society-governance
global-unspecified
data
informal
urban
economies
sparse
street
vendors
services
uncounted
inclusive
settlements
technology-computing
systems
african
without
local
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Mining plans advance without full understanding. Baseline research is essential.
society-governance
global-unspecified
data
deep-sea
ecosystems
limited
mining
plans
advance
full
understanding
baseline
technology-computing
whether
philosophy-ethics
systems
african
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Paper parks exist without real protection. Community-based enforcement and funding can help.
social-civic-problems
global-unspecified
enforcement
marine
protected
areas
often
lack
effective
paper
parks
exist
society-governance
philosophy-ethics
african
whether
technology-computing
climate-environment
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Lack of transparency hinders reforms. Open justice data can guide improvements.
society-governance
global-unspecified
data
justice
crime
outcomes
incomplete
lack
transparency
hinders
reforms
open
technology-computing
systems
african
limited
sparse
whether
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Privacy and rights are at risk. Oversight and legal limits are essential.
technology-computing
global-unspecified
digital
surveillance
powers
lack
strong
safeguards
privacy
rights
risk
oversight
society-governance
without
whether
systems
mass
african
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
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
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
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
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
First 1,000-day programs that improve long-term outcomes are not widely available. Community-based early-childhood centers with nutrition and parenting support could fill the gap.
social-civic-problems
africa
early-childhood
access
quality
interventions
vulnerable
african
children
sparse
first
000-day
low
global-unspecified
improve
society-governance
remains
Overfishing and climate shocks leave fishers economically exposed without alternative income sources. Blue-economy entrepreneurship programs could create new coastal jobs.
economics-resources
africa
coastal
african
communities
lack
diversified
livelihoods
beyond
fishing
overfishing
climate
climate-environment
global-unspecified
protection
Pretrial detention and harsh conditions contribute to recidivism rather than reintegration. Alternative sentencing and vocational training programs could improve outcomes.
economics-resources
africa
programs
african
prisons
suffer
overcrowding
poor
rehabilitation
pretrial
detention
harsh
global-unspecified
access
remains
social-civic-problems
training
education
Patients' data is scattered across paper files and disconnected systems, hindering continuity of care. Interoperable EMR platforms tailored to low-resource settings could improve outcomes.
health-biology
africa
systems
interoperable
african
health
lack
electronic
medical
records
patients
data
society-governance
technology-computing
global-unspecified
economics-resources
climate-environment
whether
