Kevin Watkins

Kevin Watkins is the chief executive of Save the Children UK. He joined the Overseas Development Institute as executive director in June 2013. He is a former nonresident senior fellow with the Center for Universal Education at the Brookings Institution, and was previously director and lead author of the U.N.'s Human Development Report And the Education for All Global Monitoring Report. Before joining the U.N., he worked for 13 years at Oxfam. He is a visiting professor of international development at the London School of Economics and senior visiting fellow at Oxford University's Global Economic Governance Program.

Latest Articles

Opinion: How to prevent the 2020s from becoming a lost decade for children

almost 6 years ago // Inclusive development

While the direct effect of COVID-19 on children may be limited, the poorest of them will be among those worst affected as health systems and economies are strained. Kevin Watkins, CEO of Save the Children UK, discusses how to avoid a great reversal in development.

Opinion: We're not fighting hard enough against the top killer of children

about 6 years ago // Global health

New research shows that 3.2 million pneumonia deaths could be averted and have a significant "ripple effect" to help combat other preventable child deaths. UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore and Save the Children UK CEO Kevin Watkins discuss how.

Opinion: Building public confidence in aid by putting the poorest first

over 9 years ago // The future of DfID

The U.K. Department for International Development's newly released Multilateral Aid Review emphasizes getting the most out of U.K. contributions to development. But that narrative risks losing public support for Britain's longstanding commitment to helping the world's neediest, writes Save the Children's Kevin Watkins.

What would Brexit mean for UK aid and trade?

over 9 years ago // EU Referendum

In this second installment of Brexit commentary from Kevin Watkins — executive director of the Overseas Development Institute and recently appointed head of Save the Children U.K. — Watkins explores the trade and foreign policy implications for Britain's aid strategy in the event the United Kingdom leaves the European Union.

What would a Brexit mean for EU development assistance?

almost 10 years ago // EU referendum

What are the implications of the United Kingdom's referendum on EU membership for international development? Kevin Watkins, executive director of the Overseas Development Institute, addresses that question in a two-part contribution to Devex. Today, we publish Part I, which looks at development assistance.

See all articles by Kevin Watkins