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The Community Trust Index assesses the level of trust in the Red Cross response during the 16th Ebola outbreak in Kasai Province. It focuses on perceptions of the organization’s actions, competencies, and the role of volunteers and staff. The survey was conducted after the outbreak, which lasted from 20 August 2025 to the last reported case on 19 October 2025. During this period, 53 confirmed cases, 11 suspected cases, and 45 deaths were reported.
With a score of 7.7, transparency scored relatively lower than other trust dimensions
Very high levels of trust following Ebola response in Kasai
Engagement with community drives higher scores
Lower Levels of Trust Among Vulnerable Populations
Overall ScoreIndex scoreThe overall score is the average of the competences and values scores. The competency and values scores are the arithmetic mean of the scores for each sub-dimension. The sub-dimension scores are generated from the weighted average of the response rates to the questions relating to each sub-dimension, using the following weightings.
Institutional
The Community Trust Index survey was conducted between 27 February and 13 March 2026 in Bulape and Mweka health areas of Kasaï Province. A total of 1,563 people participated, including 1,513 complete responses. Using a stratified random sampling approach, the survey captured perspectives across different age groups, genders, education levels, and locations to assess community trust in the Red Cross during the Ebola response.
The results reveal exceptionally high levels of trust in the Red Cross, with an overall Institutional Trust Index score of 9.2 out of 10. Trust in organizational competencies scored 9.3, reflecting strong confidence in the Red Cross's ability to deliver relevant, accessible, and effective support. Trust in organizational values was similarly high at 9.1, indicating positive perceptions of fairness, respect, inclusiveness, and integrity. While trust was consistently strong across most dimensions, transparency received a comparatively lower score than other values indicators, suggesting an opportunity to further strengthen communication and accountability with communities.
Community voices
Trust built through consistent action
The Red Cross is always present and ready. The case of Bulape with Ebola, they were very well mobilized, right up to today."
Medical director, (KII-19)
Trust grows through local engagement
When organizations come and take people from elsewhere without local recruitment that is when trust is compromised.
Territorial administrator, Mweka (KII-15)
Communities need confidence to speak up
If someone is not satisfied and makes an official complaint. What will happen? They risk facing negative consequences.
Multiple respondents, Focus Group discussion in Mweka
Findings
Trust in the Red Cross is exceptionally high, with both competencies (9.27) and values (9.08) receiving strong scores across all dimensions. Communities particularly recognize the organization's relevance (9.52), highlighting its ability to address local needs effectively.
The findings suggest that the Ebola response in Kasai contributed to sustained high levels of trust, with several affected areas reporting particularly strong perceptions of the Red Cross.
Transparency stands out as a comparatively weaker dimension. Although still positively rated (7.7), it scored notably lower than other values indicators, suggesting opportunities to strengthen communication and accountability.
Trust is also higher among people who have engaged directly with the Red Cross, including volunteers, people receiving aids, and those who have previously received support, demonstrating the positive impact of direct interaction with the organization.
With a score of 7.7, transparency scored relatively lower than other trust dimensions
Very high levels of trust following Ebola response in Kasai
Engagement with community drives higher scores
Lower Levels of Trust Among Vulnerable Populations
Recommendations
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Acknowledging needs without overpromising
There is a need to be clear about what the NS can and cannot do. Where possible, NS must (continue) to build bridges with development actors. Acknowledge unmet needs without making promises that cannot be kept.
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Building trust through early consultation
Create formal, visible consultation structures (e.g: local liaison committees, regular community meetings, etc) before activities begin. Make it easy for community members to give input.
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Closing the feedback loop
Continue to promote, empower the volunteers to co-design/build anonymous feedback channels. Train volunteers to create safe spaces for criticism. Actively communicate back to communities what has been done with their feedback.
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Beyond volunteer trust: Strengthening institutional transparency
Separate the communication strategy: reinforce the values of volunteers (already strong), while building transparency around organizational decisions, targeting criteria, and resource use.
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Bridging service gaps through collaboration
Actively partner with WASH actors and advocate for water access as a component of epidemic prevention. Acknowledge the gap honestly and communicate clearly about what the DRC Red Cross can and cannot provide.
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Expanding community engagement through local structures
Expand local membership and volunteering structures. Establish an accessible local presence (even if it’s something as simpla as a contact point) in underserved areas. Make joining the DRC Red Cross easy, visible, and normal.
Contact
Lead
Congolese Red Cross
Partners
Population
- All Respondents
- Men
- Women
Region
Age Group
Export charts
Charts will be available for export after the data loads.
These results should be interpreted with some caution. While the sample broadly reflects the population, there are small differences in location, age, and gender, as well as an over-representation of Red Cross volunteers—expected in a post-Ebola response context where volunteer engagement is high.
No comparison data were available for education or employment. While adjustments were applied, they cannot fully remove these imbalances.
The findings are therefore indicative, but not fully representative of the entire population.