Clara Lindhard Neltoft

Clara Lindhard Neltoft joined ICIMOD in November 2024 as a Climate Finance and Investment Analyst under ICIMOD’s Strategic Group 3, Action Area F: Global Advocacy.

Clara brings broad experience from various organisations, INGOs, and public sector agencies working in the fields of climate, policy, and human development. Most recently, she served as a Political Advisor with Plan International Denmark. Prior to that, she worked with the Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Utilities, focusing on the green transition of Denmark’s key high-emission sectors—industry, agriculture, and transportation – where she was responsible for policy development, political negotiations, and legislation processes. Before joining ICIMOD, Clara has gained valuable experience in climate issues related to the Hindu Kush Himalayan region, both academically and professionally. For example, she has worked with the Danish Embassy in New Delhi and with a start-up in India implementing solar-powered energy solutions for smallholder farmers in rural areas. The common nominator in her professional life has been building cooperation among diverse stakeholders, navigating politically complex environments, and undertaking action-oriented, strategic planning.

Clara is a Danish national and holds an MSc degree in Political Science from Copenhagen University, where she specialised in International Relations. Her dissertation explored the scaling of transboundary cooperation in the Hindu Kush Himalaya, using ICIMOD as a case study.