Claudia Knobloch

Energy Practice Director

"I love to bring people from different backgrounds, countries and organizations together to help create solutions that address social and ecological challenges and to make them work in practice."

Expertise

Some call it “strategic CSR”, some call it “social business”, for some it is just business as usual. No matter what you call it: how can a business be economically sustainable and “do good” at the same time? What are smart and creative business solutions for substantially improving living standards and environments? What alliances need to be forged to help people in poverty or contract with them as producers? This is at the core of my expertise.

Building knowledge

Led the “Energize the BoP” research project on energy business models in low-income markets, held several workshops and trainings on the topic, created a network of academics and practitioners and co-wrote the practitioners’ guide “Energize the BoP – Energy Business Model Generator for Low-Income Markets”.
Co-authored the publication "Partners in Development - How Donors Can Better Engage the Private Sector for Development in LDCs" that was used as background information for a high-level policy dialogue at the 4th United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries in Istanbul, Turkey.
Co-wrote a German primer on inclusive business “Entwicklungsgeschäfte”, which was translated into English in 2010 as the "Inclusive Business Guide".
Co-authored the Allianz Microinsurance Report
With Bertelsmann Stiftung, has analyzed the CSR activities of German companies abroad, the trends, supporting policies and institutions since 2008

Sharing knowledge

Gave workshops for companies, students and social entrepreneurs to develop inclusive business models
Held presentations on inclusive business and international CSR at, for example, the “German-South African Business Forum” (Nov. 2010, Cape Town/South Africa), BoP-Expert Meeting (Dec. 2010, Barcelona/Spain), 4th United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (May 2011, Istanbul/Turkey) or the International Business Forum (June 2011, Berlin/Germany)
Gave training for UNDP broker on “Creating Inclusive Business Models” in Dec. 2009 in Mombasa/ Kenya

Applying knowledge

Leads a project to build a business model for off-grid energy provision in rural Madagascar for a German investor
Led a project to explore the Indian low-income energy market and investments into inclusive energy businesses for a German utility company
Led project to create an internal think tank for a German energy utility company
Developed the concept for the “CSR weltweit” internet platform, contributed to the content on a large scale and supported the creation of the partner network of “CSR weltweit” for Bertelsmann Stiftung
Organized a series of expert meetings for Bertelsmann Stiftung in 2009 on issues like “Issue Management” and “Responsible Lobbying”

Claudia enjoys

Finding creative solutions for start-ups or new business models in the sustainable and development context
Integrating sustainable ideas into business models and products
Collaborating with bright, open-minded individuals in an international context

Other work experience

Spent six years as project manager at Virteo GmbH, an international business development consultancy, supported small and medium enterprises in developing strategies for entering new markets and ensured that the plans were implemented
Worked at Peters Bildungsgruppe, a German vocational training institution, which shares a similar focus: developing educational programs for developing and emerging countries
Strong background in marketing and (new media) communication: At the start of professional career, worked as marketing manager for the internet start-up trade2b.com AG. After that, chief editor for the foreign trade web portal VirteoNet and still works frequently as a journalist for magazines

Education

Degree in International Business and Regional Studies, University of Passau (including studies at Universidad de Granada, Spain and Middlesex University, London / UK)

Languages

German, English, Spanish