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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Banks demand collateral most small businesses cannot provide, stalling job-creating ventures. Alternative credit-scoring using mobile and transaction data could unlock lending at scale.
economics-resources
africa
small
medium
enterprises
face
massive
financing
gap
estimated
hundreds
billions
businesses
global-unspecified
climate-environment
african
technology-computing
solar
Migrant workers sending money home lose a large share to transfer fees, reducing funds available for families. Blockchain-based remittance corridors could cut costs to a fraction of current rates.
technology-computing
africa
blockchain
remittance
fees
sent
highest
any
region
migrant
workers
economics-resources
reducing
global-unspecified
transfer
diaspora
communities
countries
Rising digitization without matching security investment leaves banks, hospitals, and agencies vulnerable to attacks. Affordable managed cybersecurity services tailored to African SMEs are an underexplored market.
technology-computing
africa
cybersecurity
african
capacity
governments
businesses
underdeveloped
rising
digitization
matching
security
global-unspecified
whether
remains
infrastructure
digital
Few universities have the compute infrastructure or funding to pursue frontier research in these fields, risking long-term technological dependency. Shared regional compute clusters and diaspora-led research partnerships could help close this gap.
mathematics-logic
africa
research
quantum
investment
lags
far
behind
continents
compute
global-unspecified
society-governance
technology-computing
systems
philosophy-ethics
african
infrastructure
whether
Many streets and buildings lack formal addresses, making delivery difficult and costly for online retailers. Digital addressing apps using GPS pins could solve this cheaply.
technology-computing
africa
addressing
e-commerce
logistics
hampered
unreliable
systems
streets
buildings
lack
digital
society-governance
global-unspecified
african
social-civic-problems
grievance
online
Overgrazing, deforestation, and reduced rainfall are turning arable land into desert, forcing migration and fueling conflict. Large-scale reforestation efforts like the Great Green Wall need faster, better-funded implementation.
climate-environment
africa
sahel
deforestation
desertification
expanding
displacing
millions
overgrazing
reduced
rainfall
turning
land
prevent
global-unspecified
spreading
housing
economics-resources
Droughts, floods, and cyclones are intensifying across the continent despite Africa's minimal historical carbon footprint. Climate adaptation financing mechanisms tailored to African needs remain underdeveloped.
climate-environment
africa
climate-change
climate
contributes
least
emissions
but
suffers
disproportionately
change
society-governance
mechanisms
methods
global-unspecified
whether
governance
Weak enforcement and high demand for ivory and rhino horn sustain illegal wildlife trade networks. AI-powered camera traps and ranger-support drone systems are improving anti-poaching efforts but need wider deployment.
economics-resources
africa
wildlife
efforts
poaching
continues
threaten
endangered
species
despite
conservation
weak
systems
climate-environment
society-governance
global-unspecified
illegal
philosophy-ethics
Allegations of fraud and weak independent oversight undermine public trust in democratic transitions. Blockchain-based or biometric voter verification systems could improve election integrity.
society-governance
africa
blockchain
electoral
processes
several
african
countries
face
credibility
transparency
allegations
fraud
systems
public
technology-computing
across
global-unspecified
Multiple agencies, unclear regulations, and informal fees discourage entrepreneurs from formalizing businesses. One-stop digital business registration portals have cut registration time dramatically where implemented.
society-governance
africa
business
bureaucratic
red
tape
makes
starting
formal
african
countries
slow
reducing
digital
global-unspecified
technology-computing
