The Citi Foundation has announced a three-year, $11.2 million program in partnership with the Small Enterprise Education and Promotion (SEEP) Network in Washington, D.C., to advance the integration of microfinance into the mainstream economies of developing countries.

The Citi Network Strengthening Program will work to expand the capacity of twelve major microfinance networks and their members, enabling them to develop products and services that meet the needs of their clients while enhancing the industry's infrastructure, introducing higher standards of management and governance, and promoting the vital role of microfinance in providing the poor with access to financial services. The program will include a comprehensive assessment of the networks' capacity to meet the needs of their members, an in-depth report on the microfinance industry in participating countries or regions, and strategic, business, and implementation plans.