In conflict zones, citizens often distrust government institutions and refuse cooperation, delaying disaster responses.
➡️ The Experiment:
We ran a randomized test in the Philippines' rural areas affected by conflict. The program aimed to build trust through sustained engagement.
➡️ Key Results:
Village leaders boosted pandemic risk reporting for the regional Covid-19 Task Force by 20%. Skeptical leaders initially but improved their cooperation.
➡️ Mechanism Insight:
Beliefs about government competence shifted. Security or rebel project capture weren't main drivers of success.
➡️ Policy Takeaway:
This shows that targeted trust-building efforts can significantly enhance public health outcomes during emergencies.
