Heiko Warnken, a lawyer by training, is currently the Head of the Division for Rural development, land rights, forests and animal husbandry in the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Prior to this role, he held positions of Head of Divisions for Health, Social Security and Population Policy, and for the Environment. Warnken joined the BMZ in 1991 and worked there in many different divisions, both in Germany and abroad, among others in Ethiopia and India, as well as country desk officer for Bangladesh and Afghanistan.