Published twice a year by the Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for Development Division of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the primary objective of the Asia-Pacific Development Journal (APDJ) is to provide a platform for the exchange of knowledge, experience, ideas, information and data on all aspects of economic and social development issues and concerns facing the region and aims to stimulate policy debate and assist in the formulation of policy. Over the years, the Journal has emerged as a key United Nations publication in telling the Asian development story in a concise, coherent and impartial manner to stimulate policy debate and assist in the formulation of policy in the region. This special issue contains five selected discussion papers that highlight the importance of raising substantial financial resources various sources to invest in the social sectors, infrastructure development and efforts to tackle climate change in order to ensure a transformative change to bring about inclusive growth and sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region.