The Community Trust Index (CTI) assesses the level of trust in the Colombian Red Cross Society, focusing on community perceptions of its actions, competencies, values, and engagement with affected populations. The study was conducted between July and September 2025 across 31 departments of Colombia in the context of the country’s migration response. The survey aimed to measure trust in the Colombian Red Cross and identify the factors that shape confidence in its ability to deliver relevant, effective, and accountable humanitarian assistance. The findings provide evidence to strengthen community relationships, improve programme delivery, and support decision-making in migration-related operations.

Summary

  • Strong overall trust in the Colombian Red Cross: Both competencies (7.93) and values (8.18) receive high scores, indicating positive perceptions of the organization’s performance and conduct.

  • Inclusiveness and respectfulness are key strengths: Inclusiveness (9.20) and Respectfulness (9.08) are the highest-rated dimensions, suggesting that communities feel welcomed, respected, and fairly treated by the Red Cross.

  • Transparency remains the main area for improvement: At 5.90, transparency scores notably lower than all other dimensions, highlighting the need for clearer communication about decisions, resources, and organizational processes.

  • Engagement is associated with stronger trust: Respondents who have interacted with the Red Cross through receiving support, volunteering, recommending services, or using feedback mechanisms consistently report higher competency and value scores than those with little or no engagement.

Sampling

The survey was conducted between July and September 2025 across Colombia, covering 31 departments nationwide, with the exception of Bogotá Capital District and Vaupés. A total of 888 respondents participated in the study.

A stratified random sampling approach was used to ensure representation across key population groups, including differences in age, gender, education level, and geographic location. Data collection was carried out by Colombian Red Cross volunteers to assess community trust in the context of the migration response and to better understand perceptions of the organization’s performance and engagement with communities.

See metrics: Metrics

Geographic

The survey sample differs from the population distribution across Colombia’s departments, indicating that the geographic composition of the sample is not fully representative of the national population. Amazonas accounts for 0.5% of survey respondents compared with 15.8% of the population, making it substantially underrepresented in the sample. Similarly, Norte de Santander represents 3.3% of respondents versus 10.8% of the population, while San Andrés y Providencia accounts for 1.7% of respondents compared with 4.6% of the population. These differences reflect the survey’s geographic coverage and sampling design across the 31 participating departments.

Coverage