Joachim Paul is the Director of the Heinrich Böll Foundation's Nairobi office, a role he has held since 2021.

Under his leadership, the office addresses key issues such as ecology and food rights, democratic justice and dialogue,  gender justice, and sustainable development, strongly emphasising cooperation with civil society in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Before joining the Nairobi office, Joachim served as the Director for several Heinrich Böll Foundation offices across the Middle East and North Africa. From 2009 to 2021, he led the Beirut office covering the Middle East, the Tunis office overseeing the foundation´s work in Tunisia and Egypt, and the Ramallah office located in and focused on Palestine and Jordan and Egypt. His leadership in these regions has been marked by a commitment to democratic advancement, social justice and environmental sustainability, particularly during the challenging years of the Arab Spring and the constitutional process after the ousting of the authoritarian ruler in Tunisia. His work across these offices has refined his expertise in human rights, democratic governance, and international cooperation.

Prior to joining the Heinrich Böll Foundation, Joachim spent 10 years as a Humanitarian Emergency Specialist with UNICEF, where he managed sub-offices in Gaza (Palestine), Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Cameroon, working on humanitarian responses in unstable contexts.

In his free time, Joachim enjoys tending to his garden in Nairobi, where he grows traditional organic fruits and vegetables.