Trust in NGOs rises during Covid-19 crisis

Trust in NGOs has risen since January, according to Edelman’s Spring Update of its Trust Barometer.

Edelman’s Spring Update saw it conduct an online survey during April on public trust levels for government, business, NGOs and media in 11 markets: Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, the UK and the US. Altogether, there were over 13,200 respondents.

Record highs were seen for all institutions across the markets surveyed, with trust levels in NGOs rising 4% since the January Barometer to 62%: equal to that for businesses, and just 1% below government. Government saw trust rise to 63%, making it the most trusted institution for the first time. Trust in media was lowest at 55%.

Overall, trust in NGOs has risen in 8 of the 11 markets surveyed since January, when it was the most trusted institution alongside business. This includes three in Europe: France, where trust remains static at 58%, UK, where it has risen four points since January to 54%, and Germany, which has seen an increase of 7 points to 50%. Worldwide, trust in NGOs is highest in China (86%), India (79%), and Mexico (75%).

The Barometer also looked at areas of pandemic response: containing the pandemic, informing the public, providing economic relief and support, helping people cope, and getting the country back to normal, asking respondents which institution they expect to take a leading role in addressing each one.

Worldwide:

– 56% trust NGOs to speak the truth about the pandemic

– 43% think NGOs are doing well or very well at coordinating local relief efforts getting food, healthcare services and financial support to the most vulnerable members of the community

– 38% think NGOs are doing well or very well at taking care of people who are suffering pandemic-related financial hardship

– 41% think NGOs are doing well at raising money for pandemic relief efforts.

However, respondents in seven of the 11 markets surveyed believe their local NGOs are not prepared to deal with the crisis, including Germany, the US and Canada.

Overall, expectations for government were the highest, with respondents wanting government to lead in all areas of the pandemic response: containing the pandemic (73%); helping people cope with the pandemic (72%); informing the public (72%); providing economic relief and support (86%); and getting the country back to normal (79%).

Richard Edelman, CEO of Edelman, said:

“Faced with one of the biggest health and financial crises in history, people are turning to their governments for leadership and hope. The speed and scale of the lockdowns, the brave performance of the public health services and the extent of public expenditure to support the private sector have shown government taking quick decisive action. This is a stunning turnaround for government which has always languished at or near the bottom of the trust hierarchy.”