One of the main functions of state, in its social contract with citizens, is to provide security against common and unpredictable threats and risks. At times of crises, trust between the state or government, and citizens, is key for the social contract to hold.

Citizens trust their government when they believe it has the expertise, technical knowledge, capacity, and impartiality to make the best judgments and decisions for the public interest and welfare. The extent of this trust and governments’ ability to preserve and strengthen it will be a crucial factor around the world in governments’ ability to respond effectively to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Arab States region has been suffering from a long-standing structural gap in public confidence and trust in governments. The United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) Arab Human Development Reports have analyzed the governance deficit and raised early warnings as to its implications. This deficit was loudly reflected in the uprisings which began in late 2010 in many countries across the region.

The Fifth Wave of the Arab Barometer Survey, a leading public opinion analysis in the region, found that, in 2018 and 2019 , trust in government in Arab Countries had decreased in most countries over the last decade; in nine of 11 countries included in the survey, less than half of respondents stated that they trust the government to a great or medium extent. What’s  more, in the same organization’s 2019 report on challenges in health care, it observed that there was not a single country in the region in which satisfaction with government performance in the health care sector exceeded 50 per cent of the population – a finding which has been consistent since polling began in 2006.

The response to the COVID-19 pandemic promises to test further citizen’s ability to trust in governments. The wide range of unprecedented protective measures, coupled with new measures which will be needed in potential testing and tracing programmes, as well as efforts to reduce the social and economic impact of the crisis, will require an unprecedented degree of social cohesion and trust in government to achieve full impact. Rebuilding trust, and rapidly, will be key for this success.

Responses across the countries of the Arab States region will be nationally tailored and government led, and the United Nations Development Programme along with partners across the UN system is ready to support from a governance perspective as part of our overall global offer. As we continue to develop the governance aspect of our response, we have identified a range of measures for governments to consider as they seek to bolster public trust in their COVID-19 response rapidly in the period ahead. These include:

Broad-based response and recovery coordination across multiple sectors
As governments rapidly establish dedicated crisis coordinating bodies or mobilize existing ones, they should ensure focus in the immediate term, on stopping the spread of the disease, saving lives and protecting livelihoods, while also proactively engaging in planning for longer-term social and economic recovery. This coordination body must work across all relevant sectors—Health, Interior, Defense, Education, Labor, Economy, Finance, Public Information, National Women’s Machineries,  and more—bringing together, at the right level of decision making authority, central executive entities including line ministries, the army military and security forces, specialized agencies like civil defense, and the media, as well as regional and local governments that play critical roles in implementation.

At times of crises, civil society organizations have proven time and again to be more agile and effective in reaching most vulnerable populations across the Arab region. Integrating civil society and communal associations into response coordination will be vital to building trust.

Inclusive response and recovery plans focusing on the most vulnerable
Response and recovery plans must demonstrate a focus on decreasing social and economic impact of the immediate health crisis and measures imposed to mitigate it, in ways that are comprehensive and inclusive of all affected populations, leaving no one behind.

Assessments of the immediate and long-term economic and social impacts and subsequent response must include measures to protect all social and economic sectors, prioritizing most vulnerable populations, including informal sector laborers, poor and socially marginalized communities, prisoners, and women, who not only experience greater burdens of care work, but are also increasingly victims of i domestic violence in situations of lock down - an area of urgent and rapid attention as called for by four regional heads of UN Agencies during the onset of curfews and quarantines across the region.

Consistent application of risk mitigation measures
Immediate social and behavioral measures required to curb the spread of COVID-19, reduce harm and save lives, such as hand washing, wearing masks and physical distancing, must be well explained, and consistently applied in reasonable ways that ensure that people accept and follow them.

Such measures must be frequently updated and clearly communicated, especially as there will be a gradual easing of restrictions and a transition to a new normal in social relations and economic recovery, eventually.

Clear, credible and consistent government communication
Trust in crisis response measures depends critically on communication, both as a means of public information and as a means of persuading communities to adhere to guidelines. To be effective, communication must be credible, based on up-to-date information and conforming with guidelines set by the World Health Organization and national authorities informed by science.

During crises, communication must be frequent and consistent in order to tackle disinformation, rumors and fear. Daily briefing by credible trustworthy sources must always be factual and accurate. The greatest impediment to public trust in government’s responses lies in institutional mixed messages, lack of transparency and disinformation, which erode public trust at a time when it is most needed.

Respect for the rule of law and human rights
Government over-reach in imposing restrictive measures during the COVID-19 crisis can lead to public mistrust if they are perceived as not abiding by the rule-of-law and respect for human rights.

Such emergency restrictive measures must be well justified, limited in scope and time bound within the confines of an overall response and recovery strategy that has been transparently communicated to the public.

In closing, the above are not prescriptions, and every national response needs to be tailored to national needs. Yet we offer them as early considerations for governments and programming partners across the region seeking to examine options for restoring trust at a time in which it is most needed.