Francesca Battilana

Bio

Policy & advocacy analyst in sustainable development and energy transition, working for a fairer and more sustainable future. Skills in policy analysis, quantitative research, project management acquired in NGOs, diplomatic and financial institutions. Background in Economics, Climate Change and Energy, EU & International Relations (Università di Bologna, Sciences Po Paris, Università di Trento). English, Spanish, Italian, French. Tenaciously optimistic.

• Research & Project Officer

  Unión de Afectados por Texaco (UDAPT) - Full-time From June 2024 to June 2025

  Conducted quantitative and qualitative field research on climate, health and economic impacts of oil spills and methane flaring across 38 indigenous communities, 16 oil fields and 50 gas flares. Designed adaptation projects with international partners and NGOs and secured $100k grant with Amnesty International; supported evidence-based advocacy and lawsuits including “Mecheros Case” (on gas flares in the Amazon). Hosted press conferences, produced communication material for academic audiences.

• Guest Lecturer

  Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - Contract / consultant From January 2025 to February 2025

  Co-hosted the “Environmental struggles and Human Rights violations in the Ecuadorian Amazon” lecture for students of the Climate Change Liability course (LLM programme International Business Law) and researchers at the Amsterdam Centre for Climate Change, Corporations, and the Law (A4CL).

• Client Advisor

  Crédit Agricole - Full-time From April 2023 to June 2024

  Oversaw operations related to ESG, international sanctions and compliance. Managed University of Bologna’s treasury and c. 80 client accounts, including from high-risk countries. Designated translator for all matters Italian-English-Spanish.

• Policy Trainee

  Embassy of Italy in South Africa - Internship From September 2022 to December 2022

  Supported policy analysis under the Just Energy Transition Partnership and blue economy frameworks; monitored policy developments and prepared research briefs in political, commercial and scientific collaboration. Coordinated with policymakers, NGOs, research institutes, and reported from scientific, policy and diplomatic events. Supported Embassy staff in event organization and external communication activities.

• UN Fellow on Environment and Sustainable Development

  United Nations Environment Programme - Full-time From May 2026 to Present

  Supporting policy production and coordinating inputs to national and sub-national processes in preparation of the Common Country Analysis and the Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework. Coordinating programmes, projects and other interventions in Kenya and ensure their visibility. Collecting and analysing data on environmental performance, identifying trends for data-driven decision-making.

• International Relations, Economics of Inequality

  University of Bologna From July 2020 to May 2023
• Graduate Exchange Program. Focus: Energy markets, renewable energy, decarbonisation; Climate science and intervention, Climate change and human migrations; Negotiation and diplomacy

  Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po) From August 2021 to June 2022
• International Studies, Climate change and armed conflicts.

  University of Trento From September 2017 to July 2020
• Undergraduate Exchange Program. Focus on International Economics, Social Processes, Sociology

  Universidad de Alicante From August 2019 to January 2020

• Italian
• English
• Spanish
• French

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