Faculty and Researchers

Paul Howe

Paul HoweDirector, Feinstein International Center and Professor of the Practice
Working with Feinstein Since: 2021
Based in: Brookline, MA

As director, Paul Howe is responsible for the overall strategy and administration of the Feinstein International Center. Paul’s career has focused on addressing the problems of hunger and famine. He worked with the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) for more than 17 years. In his last WFP assignment, he served as Country Director in Nigeria. Prior to that, he worked with WFP in Afghanistan, Uganda, and Laos and at the headquarters in Italy. Even while serving as a senior leader in WFP, Paul kept up his research and publication activities on these topics.  

Paul received a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and a master’s degree from Princeton University. He earned a doctorate from the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex, completing a thesis focused on famine in what is now South Sudan. 

He lives in Brookline, MA, with his wife and daughter. 

Research Interests:
  • Hunger and Famine 
  • Humanitarian/Development/Peace Nexus 
Most Cited Books and Articles:
  • Howe, Paul, and Devereux, Stephen. “Famine intensity and magnitude scales: A proposal for an instrumental definition of famine.” Disasters no. 28(4), (December 2004): 353-372.
Most Recent External Publications:
  • Howe, Paul. “The triple nexus: A potential approach to supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals?” World Development, no. 124 (December 2019): 104-629.
  • Howe, Paul. “Famine systems: A new model for understanding the development of famines.” World Development, no. 105 (May 2018): 144-155.

News Items

Paul Howe appointed new Feinstein Director
June 22, 2021

The Feinstein International Center and the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy are thrilled to announce the appointment of Dr. Paul Howe as the Director of the Feinstein International…

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