2009 SEEP Network Annual Conference:
Powering Connections
The 2009 Annual Conference was a success--ask any of the 523 participants from 65 countries!
Announcing SEEP's Annual Awardees
SEEP presents several awards to honor its members for their outstanding service and voluntary contribution to the SEEP and to the industry. The Member of the Year is committed to advancing the microenterprise industry and leveraging the practitioner-generated knowledge that stems from SEEP’s learning initiatives.
The Practitioner of the Year is given annually to an employee of a member organization who will have demonstrated remarkable leadership and technical contributions in promoting important development initiatives with and in support of members of the SEEP Network. Learn more.
The Network of the Year award highlights each year a different area of network excellence from its Network Capacity Assessment Tool—Governance, Operations, Human Resources, Financial Viability, External Relations, and the various aspects of Service Delivery. Learn more.
Member of the Year: Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX)
The relevance of The SEEP Network since its inception nearly 25 years ago was and continues to be intimately tied to its members. SEEP aims and prides itself in creating a neutral space to share ideas and best practices; and providing an opportunity of connecting practitioners in a global learning community.
This year’s recipient has provided significant support to the activities of the Financial Services Working Group, which has had an extremely full and productive year updating the “Framework”, holding online discussions and promoting Financial Reporting Standards. The 2009 Member of the Year assigned a senior executive to the working group, facilitated discussion boards, actively participated in every meeting and conference call, repeatedly volunteered to make connections with raters, investors and donors, and in general has provided invaluable support and council to the working group’s initiatives. This year’s recipient has taken a leadership role in advancing the over-all transparency of the microfinance sector, not only with its financial reporting but also through its support of social performance management and indicators. Visit the MIX.
Practitioner of the Year: Lloyd McCormick, ChildFund International
Working groups represent a core opportunity for SEEP members to engage productively with each other. Year after year, technical leaders consistently step forward to drive new learning agendas for the benefit of the entire industry.
This year’s recipient, Lloyd McCormick (Microenterprise Development Technical Advisor to ChildFund International), has exhibited special leadership and has driven membership participation and contributions to the HIV & AIDS and Microenterprise Development (HAMED) Working Group. These efforts led to a surge in activity and member engagement during 2009, as members developed a series of new case studies, created a new on-line workspace, and moved forward with on-line conference series which address key HAMED issues. Visit ChildFund.
Network of the Year: Pakistan Microfinance Network (PMN)
The 2009 Network of the Year Award is given to an association that has achieved important success in the area of External Relations in 2009, specifically in forging strategic partnerships with key industry stakeholders for the benefit of their membership. Learn more.
Workshop of the Year: "How Does Social Performance Management Translate into Social Returns?"
Congratulations to Richard Wardell (Unitus, Inc.), Irina Ignatieva (Concern Worldwide), Paul Luchtenburg (AMK Cambodia), and Ging Ledesma (Oikocredit). They had the highest ranked workshop based on audience feedback to the questions, "Will you use this information in your work?" and "Did you like the methodology?" See their presentation.
Annual Conference Keynote Speaker
How does the Obama administration view the role of development? What role will NGOs and private business play in US Foreign Policy Goals?
FIELD Day 2009
Hosted by AED and the FIELD-Support LWA, FIELD Day 2009 was a day of dynamic workshops, panel presentations, and debate designed to introduce new enterprise-based approaches to one of development’s most persistent problems: lack of food security. Read about it.
View the Presentation Materials page and download the Program at a Glance to learn more.
Now more than ever, SEEP’s unique ability to convene practitioners is resulting in credible, practical approaches that increase the power of enterprise to reduce poverty. The SEEP Network’s Annual Conference, considered the premiere microenterprise practitioner event for engaging in new learning on innovative practices and current topics in the field, provides a critical forum where those working in microenterprise development can come together to strengthen their collective global efforts to improve the lives of the world’s most vulnerable populations.
The SEEP Network welcomes its practitioner members as well as all microenterprise practitioners, policy makers, funders, working in the sector. The Annual Conference attracts a broad cross-section of key players including NGOs, private sector firms, foundations, investment funds, and bilateral agencies. In 2009, more than 500 people representing 225 organizations and 56 countries participated
We encourage you to check out all the information on this site and invite you to send any questions or comments you may have to Jeanne L. Long (long@seepnetwork.org).