The UK’s overseas aid budget is at its lowest level in decades, with cuts having far-reaching consequences for people and communities around the world. But increasing aid spending would mean making difficult choices at home too. With his first 100 days nearly drawing to a close, how should Andy Burnham be looking to make foreign aid spending work? And how can he make sure that money has the greatest impact?

To dive into these questions, Nesta CEO Ravi Gurumurthy was joined by Kate Hampton, CEO of the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, on the Policy Fix podcast’s deep-dive series: Andy Burnham’s first 100 days.

They discuss what the UK’s reduced aid spending means in practice, from its impact on children, women and climate action to the risks of doing nothing. They also explore how Burnham’s government could make the case for increasing aid spending at a time when there are competing pressures on public money at home.

The conversation looks at how the UK could use its influence to put international development higher up the global agenda, including through the G7 and G20. They also explore how to get better value from aid spending - from reforming international finance and tackling debt to finding better ways to deliver and scale what works.

So, as Andy Burnham approaches the end of his first 100 days, what should he do to make UK aid work harder?

Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts to find out.

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Kate Hampton, chief executive officer, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation

Kate became CEO in March 2016, having run CIFF’s Climate team since 2009.

Her current board roles include the Global Climate Finance Centre, the We Protect Global Alliance and the European Climate Foundation.  Previously, she has served on the advisory committees for the presidents of COP26, COP28, and the inaugural Africa Climate Summit.  She has received multiple awards for her work, including a First Order of Zayed (UAE) and a Friendship Award (China) in 2024, and an OBE (UK) in 2023.

Prior to CIFF, Kate’s career spanned roles in government, finance, consulting, think tanks and NGOs, including at Climate Change Capital, where she was head of policy. She has advised policymakers in several roles, including as senior policy advisor for the United Kingdom’s G8 and EU presidencies in 2005, and as a sherpa to the EU High Level Group on Competitiveness, Energy and the Environment in 2008.

She holds a BSc from the London School of Economics and a masters in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School, where she was a Fulbright scholar. In 2008, Kate was named a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader.

Ravi Gurumurthy, group chief executive officer, Nesta

Ravi Gurumurthy is group chief executive officer, joining Nesta as chief executive in December 2019. Nesta’s mission is to design, test and scale solutions to society's biggest challenges, from sustainability and health to educational inequality.

Ravi also leads the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT), often known as the ‘Nudge Unit’. BIT has grown from a small team in No 10 Downing Street to a 250-person global social purpose consultancy and a subsidiary of Nesta.

Prior to joining Nesta, Ravi co-founded and led the Airbel Innovation Lab at the International Rescue Committee. He was responsible for designing new products and services for people affected by crises in over 40 countries.

Ravi worked in the UK government from 1999 to 2013. He was an adviser and speechwriter to Foreign Secretary David Miliband, leading the creation of Every Child Matters and the Children Act 2004, and the world’s first legally binding climate legislation.

Ravi has held a number of non-executive roles, including lead non-executive director for the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero.