Francesco Galtieri is a long time professional in international affairs, specialised in conflict prevention and peace-building. A United Nations official, he is the head of UNV (United Nations Volunteers), the UN organisation that deals with volunteers. As head of the Peacebuilding Section, the Italian executive is responsible for 4,000 volunteers in 20 countries around the world.

In 2014, he coordinated the deployment of 500 UN volunteers in response to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. In addition to his operational duties, he also teaches at the Master in International Public Affairs at the Luiss School of Government in Rome, and was one of the founders of the Rena association, of which he was secretary general.