Maintaining community trust during field implementation

This week, I’m in Berlin delivering training on the importance of robust and inclusive disaster risk reduction (DRR) policy. The discussions have been insightful, but one theme keeps emerging: the importance of trust. Participants have shared real-world examples of how communities’ willingness to engage with DRR initiatives, especially those inclusive of particularly at-risk or marginalised communities, is shaped by their trust in institutions, policymakers, and each other. Without trust, even the best-designed policies risk failing at the implementation stage. Building that trust means ensuring DRR efforts are transparent, inclusive, and responsive to the lived realities of those most at risk. This reminder aligns closely with a piece I’ve had published this week on PreventionWeb, exploring the role of misinformation and trust in DRR. The piece was based on a report I launched last month (https://lnkd.in/eniYeaNM), the piece examines how misinformation doesn’t just distort public understanding of risk: it actively undermines confidence in scientific expertise and disaster governance, disproportionately affecting marginalised groups. As we refine DRR policy, we need to recognise that trust isn’t an abstract ideal, it’s a core component of effective disaster preparedness and response. Without it, the best policies remain words on a page. Building trust requires deliberate effort. Key steps include: 1️⃣ Understanding the community by analysing cultural, social, and political dynamics and engaging key leaders 2️⃣ Engaging from the start using participatory approaches and consulting diverse community groups 3️⃣ Communicating openly by providing clear, honest, and timely information 4️⃣ Ensuring inclusivity by engaging marginalised groups and avoiding reliance on elite voices 5️⃣ Delivering on commitments by following through on promises and providing regular updates 6️⃣ Maintaining long-term engagement by fostering sustained partnerships and resilience-building By prioritising trust through transparency, inclusivity, and sustained engagement, DRR efforts can become more effective, ensuring that policies translate into meaningful action for those most at risk. The link to the PreventionWeb article can be found here: https://lnkd.in/ecdZMQt7 #InclusiveDRR #LeaveNoOneBehind

If you work with ethnocultural communities, and you want to explore sensitive topics, it is doable. I have talked about topics that range from what I would consider "comfortable" - such as resilience and healthier aging to "extremely uncomfortable" - such as mental health, violence, and abuse. One of the first and most important steps before you do that is to develop and gain their trust. There is no sustainability in what we do, no matter how important it is, without earning the trust of the people we serve and support. How do you do that? Well, this was my approach when I began my work on older adult mistreatment (elder abuse): 1. Identify and map out the community organisations in your area/city that meet the requirements of your services/support/project. 2. Reach out to community/cultural/spiritual leaders of those communities - ideally with an email and then a face-to-face meeting (introduce yourself and be transparent in what your ask is, but also suggest that you would like to know how you/your organisation can be of benefit to the community). 3. Ask to be invited to community events or gatherings as a gentle entry into the community, and so they can familiarise themselves with you. 4. Remember - it's about the community, their needs, and voices. 5. You may need to do these community event visits several times to earn and develop trust (trustworthiness is also a pillar of trauma-informed care). 6. Once trust is earned, and you have been able to engage the community in conversations around their needs, you can address your ask and adapt it to the community and the concerns they share with you. This sort of community engagement will also bring with it benefits and growth, plus, if you're in the field of social support and community engagement and advocacy, you know how important these steps are. Trust first. Your ask comes later.

🏆 From Development Projects to Community-Led Safeguarding: A Lesson in Trust and Ownership 🫂 🛟 Working and belonging to one of the world’s poorest countries in the World 🌍 , where development projects are both a necessity and a paradox—capable of bringing transformation yet also deep social disruption—has been one of the most eye-opening experiences of my career. In recent years, I have had the privilege of leading efforts to implement complaint and grievance mechanisms in large-scale development projects—roads, energy, transport—ensuring they uphold a survivor-centered approach. But more than that, I wanted to place communities in the driver’s seat of these mechanisms ! I’ll never forget a conversation that shifted everything. ➡️ A community member looked at our complaint box and asked, “Why would I use this? No one has ever answered our concerns.” ➡️ That question cut deep. And it led to an even more powerful one from our team: “What would make you use it?” ➡️ The answer was simple yet profound: “We want a key. We want to open the boxes together.” That single moment sparked ✨ a transformation. Suddenly, the grievance mechanism was no longer ours—it was theirs. Community members organized committees, included the most vulnerable voices, and ensured their concerns were heard and addressed. It became more than a system; it became a movement of genuine participation. This experience reaffirmed something I deeply believe: 💡 Protocols and flowcharts look great on paper, but without the real involvement of those most affected—without their hands shaping the entry points, the feedback loops, the monitoring processes—it’s just a hollow investment. Safeguarding is not about ticking boxes. It’s about trust, shared power, and ensuring no voice goes unheard. And when communities are given true ownership, they don’t just engage—they lead. And that changes everything. #Safeguarding #PSEAH #CommunityLedDevelopment #SocialImpact #SurvivorCenteredApproach #DevelopmentProjects

Technology is the entry point. Empowerment is the destination. In our journey implementing community-centered renewable energy in North Bali, we have learned that trust is not built in meetings; rather it is built in moments. And often, those moments don’t look like “project work” at all. In Baturinggit Village, over lunch following a Focus Group Discussion, the village head, Bapak Gede Telantik, shared his passion for collecting stone rings (batu akik), carefully showing us each piece with stories and pride. What seemed like casual conversation became the foundation for mutual respect: beyond roles, beyond project titles. In Banjarasem Village, during long site walks, Perbekel I Made Sirsa told us about his daily fitness routine, a habit rooted in his former role as a sports teacher. That story opened the door to deeper dialogue about the village’s resilience and future needs. Even chats with Posyandu volunteers began with food recommendations and local fruit tips. Before long, these casual interactions evolved into honest conversations about public health, issues that hadn’t emerged in formal settings. And yes, even a light-hearted joke about traditional arak making during a village potential mapping helped break down formality and build warmth. Sometimes, trust begins with shared laughter. These “small talks” had a big impact. They created entry points into community dynamics, signals that our engagement was not transactional, but relational. From this foundation, skepticism turned into shared ownership. Communities shifted from asking “what are you bringing?” to “how can we make this work together?” And it shows! In Baturinggit, after agreeing to install the solar panel on the PAMSIMAS water pump, the community noticed the site lacked proper infrastructure. Without waiting, they proactively offered to build a base using leftover materials from a previous project In Banjarasem, while the infrastructure was already in place, the community’s enthusiasm for learning about solar panel installation was evident. They wanted not just the technology, but the knowledge. These are the moments where real transformation happens. Clean energy may be the entry point, but shared agency is the destination.   This project is led by Eka Permanasari, PhD managed by Gita Rama Mahardhika, Supported by Monash University, Indonesia, and funded by Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR). #CommunityEmpowerment #EnergyTransition #SolarForCommunities #PeopleCenteredDevelopment #CleanEnergy #SustainabilityInAction #ParticipatoryDesign #BaliBersihEnergi #InclusiveInnovation #MonashIndonesia #IESR

🚨Successful Community Organizing: Lessons from the Field🚨 Over the years, working in community mobilization has taught me a vital truth: to organize people effectively, you must first become one of them. True organizing demands humility — blending into the community, understanding and respecting its culture, and sharing in everyday life, even over a simple meal. As Alinsky (1989) emphasized, a good organizer must live among the people and make their hopes, frustrations, and dreams their own. Never position yourself as “above” the people you seek to mobilize. Instead, create platforms for dialogue that honor their voices, ideas, and experiences. Community organizing thrives when there’s a sense of shared ownership of the cause (Ganz, 2010). When people feel they are co-creators rather than spectators, their investment deepens, and movements endure. One common mistake, especially among young nonprofit founders, is treating their organizations as personal projects. When people sense exclusion or perceive a cause as someone else’s property, they disengage or participate only for payment. Yet, as McAlevey (2016) argues, effective organizing is about moving people from being "consumers" of activism to "producers" of change. Listening deeply before proposing solutions is essential. Too often, organizers enter communities with ready-made solutions rather than taking time to understand local realities. Kahn (2010) stresses that genuine listening builds credibility and ensures that strategies reflect the real needs and aspirations of the people. Building trust consistently, not just when you need support, is another non-negotiable. Trust is built through everyday interactions — being present in good times and bad, keeping promises, and demonstrating integrity (Warren, 2001). Without trust, no mobilization effort can survive the inevitable challenges and setbacks. Celebrating small wins together fuels momentum. Recognition of small victories keeps morale high and reinforces collective efficacy (Ganz, 2009). It reminds people that their efforts matter and that change, while gradual, is possible through persistence and unity. Finally, developing local leadership ensures the sustainability of movements beyond any one individual or organization. Chambers (2003) notes that leadership development must be intentional, with the goal of empowering individuals to eventually lead independently and nurture new leaders themselves, creating a ripple effect of empowerment. Ultimately, genuine relationships, a shared vision, deep listening, and collective dignity form the true foundations of lasting community transformation. #CommunityOrganizing #Leadership #GrassrootsMovements #NonprofitLeadership Abel Sibanda Ellaine Chiedza Manyere Obrail Tafadzwa Mavunga The Living Together Institute

Building trust is more important than building technology. When we began Commonlands work in rural Uganda, our first instinct was to focus on the tech — the maps, the certificates, the microloan platform. It made sense. Technology could scale solutions faster, streamline processes, and offer transparency. But without trust, even the most advanced tools are useless. Many had seen outsiders arrive with promises before—only for those promises to vanish, leaving communities worse off. Why should they trust us? We had to earn it. That meant showing up—not just once or twice, but consistently. → Sitting under trees and listening to their stories. → Respecting their skepticism and their pace. → Engaging local leaders to vouch for our intentions. Over time, we saw something remarkable. People began opening up. They shared their stories and their challenges. Only then did the technology become meaningful—it became a tool they could see themselves using, not something imposed on them. This is what made us achieve an incredible milestone: ➜ 2,500 plots documented. ➜ 99% loan repayment rate. Then I realized that trust is slow to build but incredibly fragile. And when you’re working with communities, it’s non-negotiable. Technology might be exciting, but relationships are what sustain progress. Today, every certificate we issue and every loan we facilitate is built on a foundation of trust—not just innovation. And that, I’ve learned, is the only way real change happens. Thoughts? Do you believe a lack of trust can impact the success of a project? Follow 👉 Darius and repost! #communitydevelopment #trustbuilding #socialimpact #sustainability #changemaking