Francesca Battistin
About Francesca Battistin
Francesca Battistin serves as the Head of Emergency Cash & Economic Programming at Save the Children UK, where she has worked since 2020. She holds a Master's degree in Epidemiology and has extensive experience in cash assistance and economic recovery across various international organizations.
Work at Save the Children
Francesca Battistin currently serves as the Head of Emergency Cash & Economic Programming at Save the Children UK, a position she has held since 2020. In this role, she represents Save the Children at the Grand Bargain Cash Workstream at the inter-agency level. Her responsibilities include overseeing cash assistance programs and economic recovery initiatives aimed at supporting vulnerable populations. She co-chaired the Cash & Market Humanitarian Technical Working group within the Save the Children movement, focusing on Cash & Voucher Assistance for children.
Education and Expertise
Francesca Battistin holds a Master of Science in Epidemiology from the American University of Beirut, where she studied from 2014 to 2016. She also completed a Diploma of Advanced Studies in Project Management at the University of Geneva from 2009 to 2010. Additionally, she earned a Laurea in Economics from Bocconi University, studying from 1998 to 2003. Her academic background supports her expertise in economic programming and humanitarian response.
Background
Francesca Battistin has extensive experience in humanitarian and economic recovery roles. She worked at the International Labour Organization (ILO) in various capacities, including Programme and Operations Officer and Local Economic Recovery Officer. Her international experience includes positions with the International Rescue Committee in Pakistan and Lebanon, where she focused on livelihoods and economic recovery initiatives. This diverse background informs her current work in emergency cash programming.
Achievements
Francesca Battistin was a key initiator of the Lebanon Cash Consortium (LCC) and served as an elected member of the UN-INGO Targeting Task Force. She developed the first Proxy Means Testing for targeting multipurpose cash assistance to Syrian refugees in Lebanon, which remains in use today. Additionally, she led the development of the Basic Needs Assessment Guidance and Toolbox, contributing to improved response strategies in humanitarian contexts.
Languages Spoken
Francesca Battistin is multilingual, speaking English, French, Spanish, and Italian. Her language skills enhance her ability to work in diverse international settings and collaborate with various stakeholders in the humanitarian sector.