NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Andrea Donath is Manager Private Sector Cooperation at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ GmbH), dealing with CSR in international processes and how to inspire more companies in doing impactful business in developing and emerging countries. Before she was project manager of the develoPPP.de programme responsible for South East Asia, where she was planning and managing development partnerships with various companies mainly in the agricultural and micro-insurance sector. In former positions within GIZ she was seconded for two years to the Palestinian Territories as a Portfolio Manager and Project Manager in the GIZ Liaison Office for the Federal German Ministry of Interior in Berlin where she was planning and implementing various EU projects in the new EU member states. She graduated in economics in Berlin (VWA Berlin).

Sara Ballan is manager of the BOP Learning Lab, which since 2007 has worked to collect and disseminate knowledge related to BoP markets. The Learning Lab functions as a platform for knowledge sharing among companies and other stakeholders and has developed tools, conducted study trips and been involved in many company projects across sectors and countries, including a number of projects related to affordable housing and industries in the housing eco system, such as energy, water and sanitation. Sara has worked with small companies as well as multinationals, from opportunity mapping, to partner identification, business model development, financing etc. and has a hands-on understanding of pitfalls an opportunities when working with the BoP.