AbstractThis special double issue of the International Social Security Review addresses the question of the essential roles that national social security systems play in contributing to social and economic objectives and does so through the lens of the Dynamic Social Security conceptual framework. In 2007, the International Social Security Association adopted Dynamic Social Security as the strategic concept to guide its actions. The concept aims to positively influence two outcomes: improvements in social security coverage and improvements in social security administration. The set of papers comprising this issue tackle questions relating primarily to the former. On the basis of country examples, the broad aim of this special issue is to take stock of the strategic concept and its “dimensions” as a framework to guide the sustainable development of social security systems.