Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Certification
Languages
Timeline
Personal Information
Previous Experience
Hi, I’m

Marco Cannata

Rome,

Summary

  • Senior Humanitarian Professional with over 12 years of experience leading emergency response and development programs in complex environments (Haiti, DRC, CAR, Nepal, Sudan, etc.). Strong experience in front-line deployment during acute emergencies enriched by successful experiences in LRRD and Development.
  • Expert in Program Management and Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL), with a proven track record of strengthening the capacity of local partners and national authorities (Localization). Specialized in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), rapid emergency deployment and Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) Life-Cycle Management: from initial alert/trigger to rapid assessment and intervention. Bringing specific experience in the Caribbean context (Haiti) and earthquake/hurricane response. Skilled in harmonizing operations with HQ strategies while providing hands-on operational support to local partners to ensure high-quality, donor-compliant programming (USAID, ECHO, UN agencies, Private Donors). Extensive experience liaising with UN clusters, OCHA, and DG ECHO.
  • Detail-oriented individual with exceptional communication and project management skills. Proven ability of Operational Agility to handle multiple tasks effectively and efficiently in fast-paced environments. Expert in NFI distribution, WASH-in-Emergency, and emergency protection. Recognized for taking proactive approach to identifying and addressing issues, with focus on optimizing processes and supporting team objectives.
  • A pioneer of the RRM model since its inception, having led several field missions across high-intensity contexts (e.g., CAR, DRC, Sudan). Expert in executing multi-sectoral assessments and life-saving interventions within the critical 72-hour window."

Overview

17
years of professional experience
1
Certification

Work History

European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA)

Deployment Management Expert
08.2024 - 02.2025

Job overview

  • Manage the rapid deployment of personnel and experts to field operations, ensuring operational continuity and logistical efficiency.
  • Support performance management and financial workflows for deployed teams, mirroring the operational support required for seconded staff.

Independent

Consultant: DRR, M&E, and Food Security
01.2022 - 01.2024

Job overview

  • Remote Management & QA: Provided technical support and remote management for country programs (e.g., Ai.Bi. in Ghana), focusing on proposal writing and project cycle management.
  • Proposal Development: Conducted technical analysis and drafted proposals for major institutional donors, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and localization commitments.

INTERSOS

Chef de Mission
02.2017 - 01.2018

Job overview

  • Strategic Leadership: Led a country mission managing complex protection and emergency programs. Increased program efficiency by 30% through strategic restructuring.
  • Partner Coordination: Acted as the primary liaison with government ministries, UN agencies, and the humanitarian country team.
  • Project Management: Supervised three long-term UNHCR-funded protection projects, managing HR, finance, and logistics across three provinces.

WeWorld Onlus

Country Representative
07.2015 - 03.2016

Job overview

  • Post-Disaster Response: Led the transition from emergency relief (post-2015 earthquake) to rehabilitation (LRRD).
  • Partnership Management: Coordinated a portfolio of 3 projects implemented with 5 local partners, focusing on strengthening partner capacities in reporting, compliance, and project implementation.
  • Donor Engagement: Collaborated with the EU Delegation to finalize and win a major project proposal.

Danish Refugee Council (DRC)

CCCM & WASH Emergency Officer
01.2014 - 05.2014

Job overview

  • Camp Management: Managed Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) activities in three IDP camps during the height of the crisis.
  • Successfully navigated complex "red-zone" security environments to deliver aid to hard-to-reach populations.
  • Infrastructure: Oversaw the construction of WASH facilities (latrines, showers) and coordinated service delivery with partners.

Arbeiter Samariter Bund (ASB)

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Officer
04.2013 - 10.2013

Job overview

  • Caribbean Context: Coordinated DRR activities in Haiti, working directly with local authorities and school directors to improve disaster preparedness.
  • Contingency Planning: Developed contingency plans for staff and beneficiaries, highly relevant to hurricane response contexts.
  • Localization: Reviewed and strengthened previous DRR projects to ensure sustainability and local ownership.

CESVI

Program Coordinator & M&E Officer
01.2009 - 01.2010

Job overview

  • MEAL Leadership: Designed and implemented the M&E system for the entire program portfolio. Ensured harmonization of tools and timely reporting to donors (UNDP, UNICEF, WFP, ECHO).
  • Assessment & Design: Led needs assessments and drafted concept notes and full proposals for new emergency interventions.

World Health Organization (WHO)

Technical Officer – M&E
09.2007 - 04.2008

Job overview

  • System Design: Designed a global M&E system implemented across 27 countries for the GGM programme.
  • Capacity Building: Trained national assessors and regional officers on M&E protocols and data collection.

Education

CIHC
Geneva, Switzerland

International Diploma from Humanitarian Assistance
01.2007

University of Bologna
Italy

Advanced University Degree from International & Diplomatic Sciences
01.2004

Skills

  • Emergency Response Management
  • Localization & Capacity Building
  • MEAL & Quality Assurance
  • Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)
  • Donor Relations
  • Team Management
  • Ability to adapt to different RRM governance structures
  • Multi-sectoral Initial Rapid Assessment (MIRA)
  • Hard-to-reach (HTR) areas
  • Life-saving NFIs & WASH kits
  • Trigger-based interventions
  • Acute displacement monitoring

Accomplishments

  • Supervised directly a team of 7 Expats and other 9 int. staff members based on sub-offices.
  • Interacted daily, from remote, with 27 WHO GGM national program's representatives.
  • Wrote, submitted and get approved projects from ECHO, WFP, UNHCR, UNICEF, FAO, UNDP, USAID, Private Companies, National Authorities / Cooperation Agencies, and others.

Certification

  • Evaluation & M&E, Quality Evaluation of Humanitarian Projects (URD), Monitoring and Evaluation of Projects (IADB), The Logical Framework for Project Design (IADB)
  • Disaster Risk Reduction, DRR in Emergencies (RedR/Austrian Red Cross), Climate Change and DRR (WBI Global), Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Framework (EMI/World Bank), Damage and Reconstruction Needs Assessment (EMI)
  • Humanitarian Standards, Sphere Standards and the Humanitarian Charter
  • Methodologies, Agile at Work: Agile Methodologies & Retrospectives (LinkedIn Learning, 2020)

Languages

Italian
English
French
Spanish

Timeline

Deployment Management Expert

European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA)
08.2024 - 02.2025

Consultant: DRR, M&E, and Food Security

Independent
01.2022 - 01.2024

Chef de Mission

INTERSOS
02.2017 - 01.2018

Country Representative

WeWorld Onlus
07.2015 - 03.2016

CCCM & WASH Emergency Officer

Danish Refugee Council (DRC)
01.2014 - 05.2014

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Officer

Arbeiter Samariter Bund (ASB)
04.2013 - 10.2013

Program Coordinator & M&E Officer

CESVI
01.2009 - 01.2010

Technical Officer – M&E

World Health Organization (WHO)
09.2007 - 04.2008

University of Bologna

Advanced University Degree from International & Diplomatic Sciences

CIHC

International Diploma from Humanitarian Assistance

Personal Information

Nationality: Italian

Previous Experience

  • Head of Sub-Office for CISP in DRC
  • Project Manager for COOPI in Uganda
  • Project Manager for GUS in Sri Lanka (post-Tsunami)
  • Logistic Officer for Intersos in West Darfur, Sudan
Marco Cannata