Dr. Paulin Basinga leads the foundation’s work across the African continent. Assuming this role in March 2024, Paulin brings extensive experience gained through his country and global level engagements. Before this role, he held the position of foundation’s Global Director of Program Advocacy and Communications (PAC) based in Seattle. In this role, Paulin orchestrated strategic advocacy initiatives and forged valuable partnerships with advocacy teams in S/E Asia and Africa.

Before his PAC role, Paulin served as the foundation’s Director of Health for Africa, leading a dedicated team in devising and implementing comprehensive country plans to advance health priorities across the continent. As the foundation’s country director in Nigeria, Paulin revitalized critical partnerships and advanced health, nutrition, agriculture, gender, and financial inclusion priorities, aligning them with the Nigerian government’s Human Capital Development Agenda.

Paulin’s journey with the foundation began in 2012 as a Senior Program Officer on the HIV team. Here, he worked on the HIV Efficiency and Effectiveness Initiative, pioneering strategies to maximize the impact of the foundation’s investments in combating HIV/AIDS. Subsequently, he transitioned to the Integrated Delivery team, overseeing investments in community and child health before assuming the role of Deputy Director of the Country Primary Health Initiative team - covering Ethiopia, Nigeria, Senegal, Burkina Faso and other countries.

In 2015, Paulin was seconded to Rwanda to assume a pivotal role as Senior Advisor to the Rwanda Biomedical Centre within the Rwandan Ministry of Health. During this tenure, he provided crucial decision support for health sector reforms in Rwanda.

Before joining the foundation, Paulin served as Deputy Director of Research at the National University of Rwanda’s School of Public Health. Here, he led groundbreaking research initiatives addressing HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and maternal and child health, contributing significantly to efforts to strengthen Rwanda’s healthcare systems.

Paulin holds a medical degree from the National University of Rwanda, complemented by a Master’s degree and Ph.D. in International Development from Tulane University.