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. A recognized expert on the topic of famine, he brings to his role over 17 years of experience working with the United Nations World Food Program (WFP). In his last assignment, he served as WFP Country Director in Nigeria. He previously worked in Afghanistan, Uganda, and Laos and at WFP’s headquarters in Italy. Even while serving as a senior leader in WFP, Paul continued his research and publication activities on the issues of hunger, famine, and the humanitarian-development-peace nexus.

Paul received a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University, a master’s degree from Princeton University, and a doctorate from the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex.

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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Feinstein Research Projects

Localization of Humanitarian Assistance
By Daniel Maxwell, Sabina C. Robillard, Kimberly Howe, Teddy Atim, Merry Fitzpatrick, Paul Howe | July 2020

This research program seeks to understand the enabling and hindering factors that support localized or locally led humanitarian responses to natural disasters, conflicts, and prolonged complex emergencies.

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