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The Citi Network Strengthening Program constantly seeks to engage Citi representatives to participate in network interaction and events. Here you’ll find some recent highlights of Citi’s involvement.

During the 2009 Global Network Summit held last November, Pamela Flaherty, President and CEO of Citi Foundation was featured on a panel with microfinance association leaders to discuss how associations meet their market needs through fostering synergies and strategic alliances with other industry stakeholders. She discussed the importance of associations from the foundation’s perspective, and emphasized the greater impact and market efficiencies obtained by working with associations.

During a session on microfinance investing, Bob Annibale, Global Director of Citi Microfinance and Community Relations moderated a discussion on the post-financial crisis climate and its impact on investment strategies. Also during the 2009 Global Network Summit, Andrea Hurst, Director for Business and Social Responsibility Communications delivered a presentation on key strategies for developing a communications plan as well as tips for working with the media.

Karim Seifeddine, Public Affairs Officer, Middle East Cluster Head and Andrea Legnani, Public Affairs Officer, Continental North European Cluster delivered an in-depth presentation on marketing and media relations for NGO’s at the 2010 Cairo Association Management Training Institute held in Cairo. The presentation also emphasized the role of media as a major stakeholder and included detailed strategies for working with the media. Following the presentation, Karim, Andrea and Swati Patel, Head of Community Affairs EMEA Region, facilitated small group discussions with the participating associations and provided hands-on advice and feedback on their communications materials and strategies.

*Highlights from 2009*

Bob Annibale, Global Director of Citi Microfinance was a keynote speaker at Sanabel’s 6th Annual Conference in Beirut, Lebanon in May 2009. Entitled "Human Capital in Microfinance: People, Passion and Value," Annibale presented on the Impact of the Global Crisis on MF & State of the Industry.

Citi Ecuador CFO Marisol Perla was present at the April 2009 Training Peer Exchange in Quito Ecuador. Perla welcomed the audience on behalf of Citi, and expressed support for the program, saying that it “substantially contributes to expand the reach of microfinances in benefit of the most needed, providing them an opportunity to access financial products to economically prosper and improve their quality of life.”

Senior Vice President Citigroup Scott Wisner was a featured plenary speaker at the MFC Regional Conference, “Global Crisis: Threat or Opportunity for Microfinance.” He spoke on the topic of over-indebtedness in the region and offered the perspective and experience of Citigroup on managing client repayments and relationships.

Swati Patel, Head of Corporate Citizenship for the EMEA Region, participated in the May 2009 Social Performance Peer Exchange in Belgrade. Patel welcomed the participants on behalf of the Citi Foundation and contributed to the sessions with perspectives and experiences from the corporate sector. Additionally, Ms. Patel facilitated a meeting with the Assistant Minister of the Serbian Ministry of Economy and Regional Development to further promote government support for microfinance in Serbia, one of MFC’s member countries.

Citi India’s Head of Corporate Citizenship, Aloka Majumdar, gave a presentation on marketing and communication strategies during the July 2009 Policy Advocacy Exchange. Aloka facilitated an in-depth discussion on the different strategies networks have taken to reach out to the media, as well as the efforts they have taken to convince stakeholders of their agenda. In her presentation, Majumdar stressed the importance of a strong argument and clear anecdotal evidence, and urged networks to develop long-term strategies when reaching out to media.

Citi Asia Pacific’s Head of Corporate Citizenship, Paula Bennett, presented at the 2009 Asia Network Summit in Singapore. Bennett conducted the “Strategic Communications 101” Seminar, which covered segments on knowing your audience, message development, basic media skills, and communications challenges for microfinance networks.