Paul Zubeil

Paul Zubeil (born 27 November 1975 in Basel) currently is the Deputy Director‑General for European and International Health Politics at the German Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) and a German global health expert.^[1] Zubeil is known for his work in multilateral governance, health diplomacy, pandemic preparedness, and global health financing, with a career including in international organizations such as the United Nations and Germany’s engagement with the G7, G20, WHO and UNAIDS.^[2]

Zubeil studied Business Administration at the University of Mannheim (MSc) and studied Public Health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.^[3] He earned a diploma in Strategic Public Procurement from the UK’s Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply.

Zubeil held multiple senior roles within UNFPA from 2009 to 2021.^[1] He served as Deputy Director and Senior Policy and Strategic Partnerships Adviser from 2017–2021 at the UNFPA Liaison Office to the European Commission in Brussels, where he managed donor relations and institutional coordination. He directed operational and financial reporting structures and represented the agency in high-level EU political forums. Previously, he was Chief of Operations for UNFPA in Haiti (2013–2017), managing emergency operations in a humanitarian and fragile contexts. He also held a temporary assignment in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Earlier roles included Finance and Budget positions at UNFPA Headquarters in New York and Liaison Officer to the European Commission.

Since February 2021, Zubeil has led Germany’s European & International health strategies at the Federal Ministry of Health.^[4] His responsibilities include cooperation with the European Union, the World Health Organization (WHO), UNAIDS, and the G7/G20 health processes. In September 2024, he presented the federal government’s review process on global health architecture to the Bundestag’s Subcommittee on Global Health. Zubeil also participated in the 2022 “Catalyst Dialogue on Global Health Architecture,” organized by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), where he addressed fragmentation in global health institutions.^[5] In a 2022 article in Ärzteblatt, he emphasized the need for joint solutions in the face of global health financing challenges.^[6]

Zubeil has regularly served as co-chair and panelist at major international conferences on global public health. He has contributed to discussions at events such as the World Health Summit,^[7] the Global Health Talk,^[8] the European Health Forum Gastein,^[9] and the Catalyst Dialogue on Global Health Architecture.

Zubeil also served as Chair of the 53rd UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board representing Germany,^[10] where he facilitated institutional dialogue and strategic decision-making at a critical time of transformation for the Joint Programme. He highlighted Germany’s commitment to the HIV/AIDS response and its broader global health priorities.

Zubeil is married to Hendrik Streeck,^[11] Professor of Virology, Member of the German Bundestag, and Federal Government Commissioner for Addiction and Drug Issues.