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
The problem of water sanitation and hygiene gaps persisting continues to affect hundreds of millions of people and undermines progress on multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Existing responses remain fragmented, under-resourced and poorly adapted to local contexts. A strong solution must operate effectively under severe constraints of skilled personnel, infrastructure, electricity and connectivity. It should define clear measurable outcomes, identify possible unintended harms, and demonstrate how the intervention can be sustained by local institutions long after initial funding ends.
water
sanitation
hygiene
gaps
persisting
other
Future progress on human development and planetary health depends on solving gender pay gaps remaining. Conventional approaches have proven insufficient. The required intervention must integrate community knowledge, data and appropriate technology while remaining affordable, privacy-preserving and operable with minimal external support. Strong solutions will articulate measurable impact metrics, risk mitigation strategies, and a plan for sustained operation by local actors after the pilot phase.
remaining
proven
strategies
gender
pay
social-civic-problems
racial wealth gaps remaining wide remains one of the most urgent challenges of our time. Systems currently in place are inadequate for the scale and complexity of the problem. A successful approach must work where resources are scarcest and demonstrate clear, measurable results. It should identify possible harms, respect local agency, and show how the solution can be maintained and expanded by the communities it is meant to serve.
racial
wealth
gaps
remaining
wide
other
The problem of coastal-inland gaps remaining continues to affect hundreds of millions of people and undermines progress on multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Existing responses remain fragmented, under-resourced and poorly adapted to local contexts. A strong solution must operate effectively under severe constraints of skilled personnel, infrastructure, electricity and connectivity. It should define clear measurable outcomes, identify possible unintended harms, and demonstrate how the intervention can be sustained by local institutions long after initial funding ends.
coastal
inland
gaps
remaining
developing
other
Future progress on human development and planetary health depends on solving private finance not filling gaps. Conventional approaches have proven insufficient. The required intervention must integrate community knowledge, data and appropriate technology while remaining affordable, privacy-preserving and operable with minimal external support. Strong solutions will articulate measurable impact metrics, risk mitigation strategies, and a plan for sustained operation by local actors after the pilot phase.
private
finance
filling
gaps
developing
social-civic-problems
The problem of data gaps hiding problems continues to affect hundreds of millions of people and undermines progress on multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Existing responses remain fragmented, under-resourced and poorly adapted to local contexts. A strong solution must operate effectively under severe constraints of skilled personnel, infrastructure, electricity and connectivity. It should define clear measurable outcomes, identify possible unintended harms, and demonstrate how the intervention can be sustained by local institutions long after initial funding ends.
data
gaps
hiding
problems
creating
other
Addressing wikipedia gaps in many languages is critical for achieving the 2030 Agenda. Current efforts fall short in scale, speed and equity, leaving the most vulnerable behind. Any viable solution must function in low-resource settings with limited specialists, transport, laboratory capacity and broadband. Proposals should specify quantifiable biological, social or environmental outcomes, openly discuss potential risks, and present a realistic pathway for long-term maintenance and local ownership beyond short research pilots.
wikipedia
gaps
many
languages
2030
mathematics-logic
Infrastructure maintenance that fills gaps with glowing commercial messages turns every walk into an ad exposure. The challenge is funding public repairs without converting the pavement itself into continuous commercial real estate.
repairs
removing
micro
advertisements
embedded
health-biology
Companion drones assigned at birth that cannot be permanently powered down raise questions of autonomy, surveillance, and liability. The challenge is giving individuals genuine authority over devices that have been present since infancy without creating safety gaps.
over
drones
establishing
control
lifelong
health-biology
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Updating software running power grids or medical devices carries real risk of unexpected downtime, but delaying updates leaves known security gaps open longer. Balancing update speed with operational safety remains an unresolved tradeoff.
technology-computing
global-unspecified
software
updates
haven
found
way
make
critical
infrastructure
both
fast
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Cell and gene therapies may deliver durable remissions but have complex safety profiles. Post-marketing registries and patient-reported outcome platforms can close knowledge gaps.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
therapies
new
cancer
will
demand
better
real-world
data
understand
long-term
society-governance
public
registries
health-biology
governance
technology-computing
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Cell and gene therapies may deliver durable remissions but have complex safety profiles. Post-marketing registries and patient-reported outcome platforms can close knowledge gaps.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
data
therapies
new
cancer
will
demand
better
real-world
understand
long-term
society-governance
technology-computing
infrastructure
african
systems
europe
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
South America / Unspecified, South America
PISA results highlight widespread struggles in maths and science, with schools in poor areas lagging behind. Adaptive learning platforms and teacher-support tools can raise outcomes.
social-civic-problems
south-america
south-america-unspecified
education
quality
gaps
perpetuate
inequality
low
social
mobility
pisa
results
digital
remains
african
global-unspecified
technology-computing
open
South America / Unspecified, South America
PISA results highlight widespread struggles in maths and science, with schools in poor areas lagging behind. Adaptive learning platforms and teacher-support tools can raise outcomes.
social-civic-problems
south-america
south-america-unspecified
gaps
education
quality
perpetuate
inequality
low
social
mobility
variant
focuses
data
african
global-unspecified
europe
infrastructure
open
South America / Unspecified, South America
Women bear disproportionate care burdens, face wage gaps, and are underrepresented in leadership, despite advances in education. Care-economy support systems and women-focused funding platforms can improve autonomy.
economics-resources
south-america
south-america-unspecified
gender
inequality
remains
profound
south
america
women
bear
disproportionate
care
systems
global-unspecified
social-civic-problems
society-governance
education
open
South America / Unspecified, South America
Droughts and glacier retreat complicate water allocation for cities, farms, and energy. Basin-level data platforms and negotiated allocation tools can support sustainable management.
climate-environment
south-america
south-america-unspecified
water
management
data
growing
andean
semi-arid
regions
variant
focuses
infrastructure
global-unspecified
african
society-governance
technology-computing
systems
open
South America / Unspecified, South America
Reliance on indirect taxes and weak enforcement undermine equity and revenues. Digital tax-administration tools and progressive reform design platforms can strengthen systems.
technology-computing
south-america
south-america-unspecified
systems
tax
south
america
often
remain
regressive
prone
evasion
variant
society-governance
climate-environment
data
global-unspecified
digital
open
South America / Unspecified, South America
Statistical offices face capacity and resource constraints, leading to gaps in key indicators. Open-data and survey-modernisation platforms can improve information.
society-governance
south-america
south-america-unspecified
data
infrastructure
evidence-based
policymaking
limited
south
american
states
statistical
offices
african
global-unspecified
technology-computing
systems
europe
open
United Kingdom, Europe
Multiple overlapping shocks—from war in Ukraine and energy disruption to populist politics and institutional strain—are testing the resilience of European democracies. Builders can develop scenario-modeling and early-warning tools to help governments and investors navigate these risks.
society-governance
europe
united-kingdom
faces
convergence
political
economic
security
crises
variant
focuses
data
europe-unspecified
african
global-unspecified
energy
climate-environment
european