Sergio Cecchini

Experience

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  Alias srl

  Sept 1997 - Oct 1998

  Account Executive

  Responsible for Nissan and Rome Municipality advertisement campaigns

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  UNIMED - Mediterranean Universities Union

  Apr 1999 - Mar 2000

  Webmaster

  Responsible for the launch and management of the unimed.org website

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  Bravaitalia Spa

  Apr 2000 - Mar 2001

  Webmaster

  Responsible for the launch and management of the web portal bravaitalia.comCoordinating the content production workflow and publicationMonitoring the engagement and reach rates

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  Reporters Sans Frontières Italy

  Apr 2001 - Sept 2001

  Head of Communication

  Defining and implementing the communication and advocacy strategy to launch Reporters Sans Frotnières in Italy, increase its visibility and leverage to support the causes promoted by the International Secretariat.

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  Medici Senza Frontiere

  Sept 2001 - Aug 2005

  Head of Media Unit

  • Led the MSF Italy Media Unit (2 staff members), managing media relations, organising press conferences and acting as a spokesperson.• Acted as International Communication Coordinator in Angola, (2002), Darfur (2004) and in Indonesia after the Tsunami (2005).• Defined media strategies to increase MSF visibility on Italian media and raise awareness about MSF activities amongst the Italian public.• Managed the production and launch of the new MSF.IT web site.• Developed communication training modules for Italian expatriates. Show less

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  Médecins Sans Frontières Belgium

  Sept 2005 - Apr 2007

  Emergency Communication officer

  • Defined, implemented and monitored media strategies in humanitarian emergencies to increase MSF positioning and visibility: war in Lebanon (August 2006); civil war in Ivory Coast (March and June 2006); cholera outbreak in Angola (April 2006); Haiti clashes between local gangs and UN troops (January 2006); Kashmir earthquake, Pakistan (October 2005).• Managed international media during humanitarian emergencies.• Organised press conferences, media briefings and produced all the supporting documentation (press releases, Q&A, talking points) to position MSF during emergencies.• Acted as a spokesperson for international media. Show less

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  Medici Senza Frontiere

  May 2007 - Dec 2012

  • Directed a team of 6 staff organised in three units and increased media coverage of +57%.• Together with the operational unit, developed advocacy campaigns to improve the conditions of migrants and asylum seekers in formal and informal settings. • Supported the General Director and the Board to engage with national media and political stakeholders.• Optimised the management of the department by improving performances, reducing human resources staff and the annual budget by -8%.• Expanded MSF presence in the society by building partnerships with academic, editorial and cultural entities.• Acted as Emergency Communication Coordinator in Misrata (Libya, 2011) to improve MSF perception amongst local communities and stakeholders during the last phase of the siege.• Organised a communication training in Niger for MSF Heads of Mission from the Sahel region.• Joined security and crisis management training and dealt with the kidnapping of an Italian staff in Darfur (Sudan). Show less • Reorganised and directed a department of 26 staff.• Developed a five years fundraising plan achieving an increase of income of +4.7M between 2007 and 2009 by producing integrated FR and communication campaigns.• Defined a communication strategy that increased MSF presence in the Italian media of +175% between 2007 and 2009.• Defined and produced communication product to increase awareness of MSF projects in Colombia, Peru, Ethiopia.• Contributed to the production and launch of a series of advocacy reports denouncing the dire conditions of migrant and asylum seekers arriving in Italy.• Acted as Communication Coordinator in Kenya (2008) during the post-electoral violence. Show less

  • Director of communication

    Oct 2009 - Dec 2012

  • Director of Communication and fundraising

    May 2007 - Oct 2009
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  Change.org

  Jan 2013 - Jul 2014

  Director of communication

  • Defined and implemented the communication plan to position Change.org in Italy and to make it the most known and used online petition platform during the first semester of 2013.• Established and fostered networks with Tier1 journalists, political leaders and influencers.• Coached the Country director to engage with the media, political and institutional stakeholders.• Produced customised communication and engagement plans to support local and national advocacy campaigns.• Defined crisis communication plans to manage reputational risks. Show less

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  Médecins Sans Frontières Belgium

  Sept 2014 - Sept 2020

  Director of Communication and Fundraising

  • Directed a department organised in four teams (Operational Communication, Home Society Communication, Fundraising, Digital Unit) and composed of 60 staff members of six different nationalities.• Together with the Operations and Analysis departments defined, implemented and monitored international communication strategies and advocacy campaigns to strengthen MSF political leverage and visibility during major crisis (COVID-19; 2014 Ebola outbreak; attacks against the MSF trauma center in Kunduz/Afghanistan and other facilities in Syria; refugee crisis and SearchAndRescue operations; conflicts in Syria, Ukraine, Gaza and Iraq).• Acted as Communication Coordinator in Afghanistan (2015), Mosul (Iraq, 2017), Ukraine (2015) and Lesvos (2019) to improve MSF visibility and perception on local and international media.• Developed multi-channel communication and fundraising campaigns to increase private funds with an average annual growth rate between +5% and +8%. In the first 2020 semester, COVID-19 communication and fundraising strategy raised +3,5M€ vs 2019, with an ROI of 6,5.• Created and guided the Digital Unit to develop engagement and social media listening strategies in countries of intervention.• Developed a plan to reach new audiences in the MENA and Russia by creating the first MSF communication team in Lebanon and supporting the new one in Moscow.• Coordinated, inspired and motivated a network of MSF sections based in Belgium, Brazil, South Africa, Finland, Hong Kong, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Luxembourg, Lebanon.• Together with the General Direction, the Operation and Legal departments, defined communication and media strategies to manage security incidents and reputational crisis. • Supported the General Direction, the Management Team and the Board in dealing with international and regional media. Show less

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  GoFundMe

  Oct 2020 - Oct 2020

  Strategic Advisor

  Produced market research to analyse GoFundMe potentials, penetration and notoriety in Belgium and proposed avenues to increase brand visibility and appreciation.

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  Médecins Sans Frontières (Switzerland)

  Jan 2021 - Apr 2021

  Head of Project

  • Coordinated the 50 staff MSF project in Kadamjay.• Coordinated the COVID-19 Home Based Care intervention.• Coordinated the following activities:- Support to Ministry of Health facilities dealing with the management of Non-Communicable Diseases and providing women and children’s hospital care for the general population exposed to environmental pollution.- Coordinating the Human Health Risk Assessment to identify heavy metal intoxication pathways and high-risk exposure areas- Planning and implementing a Biomonitoring study- Defining a multi-stakeholder strategy to ensure the implementation of identified measures to reduce the exposure to heavy metals- NCDs: providing support to the medical team in running routine activities and engaging with local stakeholders for a progressive shift from NCD to toxicological focus.• Developed multi-stakeholders engagement strategy with local authorities, partners and communities to ensure the adoption of environmental health recommendations. Show less

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  World Health Organization

  May 2021 - Aug 2022

  Infodemic Management Officer - Africa Infodemic Response Alliance Coordinator

  • Coordinate the WHO AFRO infodemic response team.• Support the development of innovative, impactful materials for Viral Facts.• Develop strategies and workflows for a sustainable response to infodemics.• Identify funding opportunities and work on resource mobilization and funding proposals.• Build partnerships with key international, regional, and national stakeholders, donors, media.• Support the development of an infodemic management response system in priority countries.• Chair the AIRA meetings and represent WHO AFRO in meetings on infodemic management.• Present monthly reports to the COVID-19 Incident Management Support Team on the efficacy of infodemic management campaigns and interventions.• Set research agenda in collaboration with research methodology experts. • Support implementation of research activities and incorporation of findings into long-term strategy. Show less

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  Médecins Sans Frontières Belgium

  Oct 2022 - Sept 2023

  Country Representative

  Responsibilities:Strategic planning and management:• Initiating and leading the mission-wide operational strategy; including country policy, annual plan, budget and policy frameworks. • Monitoring developments in MSF’s general policies and strategies and adapting the annual plan of the mission accordingly. • Evaluating the progress and outcomes of activities to ensure that objectives are achieved and reporting to Headquarters.• Leading the management team translating the strategic objectives into operational activities.• Identifying potential fields of intervention and determining response strategies. Analysis, networking and representation:• Monitoring and analyzing the political, humanitarian and medical situation in the country and in the region. • Representing MSF towards external actors (national authorities, NGO’s, donors, military organizations, media, etc.) to create commitment and negotiate terms and conditions for field operations.• Integrating an internal and external communication policy for the mission to advocate for change. Human resources• Managing, coaching and developing direct reports in line with human resource policies.• Implementing Human Resources-policy and ensuring that MSF acts as a responsible employer in terms of working conditions and reduction of security and health risks.Security• Defining and ensuring the implementation of the security framework in the country, in order to ensure safety of staff and visitors across the mission. • Being responsible for all security aspects of the mission. Show less

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  Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

  Oct 2023 - now

  Humanitarian Representative to the European Union and NATO