The Sector Network Health and Social Protection Africa, MENA (Middle East and North Africa) and LAC (Latin America and the Caribbean) was formed in 2002, when the two health sector networks for Francophone and Anglophone Africa were combined. Today, the sector network links all projects and programmes in the spheres of health, social protection and social policy in sub-Saharan Africa, the Maghreb states and the Middle East, as well as the HIV/AIDS projects and programmes in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The sector network connects more than 30 projects and programmes in 30 different countries, as well as a number of development cooperation organisations.

The Sector Network Health and Social Protection Africa, MENA and LAC has the following overarching objectives:

1. to exchange information, evaluations, lessons learned and innovative approaches
2. to systematically record and evaluate project experience against the background of the products employed
3. to operationalise regional and sector-specific strategies and concepts
4. to strengthen cooperation between GIZ Head Office in Eschborn and the projects and programmes
5. to make a regional contribution to knowledge management at GIZ
6. to monitor the regional demand for sectoral services and further develop corresponding offers
7. to strengthen and position GIZ and its employees with regard to sectoral and development cooperation themes.