This issue explores how Pacific developing member countries can strengthen their post-pandemic social protection systems to help address long-standing development concerns and boost resilience to further shocks. It assesses individual countries' economies and outlines ways they could improve their social protection systems, despite depleted resources. Exploring megatrends facing the subregion, including population ageing and migration, it shows how investing in universal social protection policies can have a long-term impact on reducing poverty, vulnerability, and social exclusion.