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.