Human Rights NGOs: A Crisis of Trust – The Root Causes and Recommended Remedies Dr Helena Ivanov
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are facing a deepening crisis of trust, with confidence in them steadily declining on a number of fronts across both developed and developing countries according to survey data. This erosion of trust threatens their ability to operate effectively. This report seeks to analyse the origins of this crisis of trust and offer targeted policy recommendations for NGOs. If implemented, these measures should help restore confidence in the sector, allowing it to carry out its vital work more effectively.
The crisis of trust has worsened over the last few years. For instance, significant doubt surrounds the conduct and research of human rights NGOs towards Israel, particularly since the 7 October attacks. As Michael Powell tells us in his recent The Atlantic article: “organizations that explicitly valued impartiality and independence have become stridently critical of Israel.” In the same article, Powell argues that human rights organisations frequently apply double standards. He highlights how once-impartial groups, such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, which originally pursued clear and principled objectives, have become increasingly biased – particularly in their approach to the Israel–Hamas war.
This report does not aim to assess the validity of the accusations of bias against these NGOs. Instead, it argues that the mere presence and frequency of such comments contribute to a substantial erosion of trust in the NGO sector. In a conflict where the stakes are so high, and given the critical role that NGOs play in protecting human rights both in times of peace and war, it is essential to find a way to address these concerns and restore genuine confidence in the work of these organisations.
Another factor contributing to this erosion of trust is the increasing perception of double standards. When NGOs focus on and push for the highest ethical standards for Western companies, they create a perception that they are inadvertently distorting developing markets and contributing to worsening human rights conditions on the ground – as their activities result in critical strategic assets and operations being taken over by Chinese, Russian or other similarly less scrupulous entities.
Further compounding the issue, the new US administration, led by President Donald Trump, has signalled plans to reduce and in some cases stop foreign aid spending and to subject NGO funding to increased scrutiny. Elon Musk, who leads the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and has been widely critical of American philanthropist George Soros and his role in the NGO sector, has stated his intention to scrutinise NGO funding closely, casting further doubt on the sector’s financial viability and future efficacy. Already in February 2025, “the Trump administration indicated it will shut it [USAID] down as an independent agency and possibly move it under the State Department in a larger effort to crack down on federal bureaucracy.” A few days later, all USAID overseas missions were ordered to shut down, with the USAID webpage announcing that “Nearly all staff for the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, will be placed on leave.”
This report explores the nature and root causes of the trust deficit and provides actionable policy recommendations. Central to these is the adoption of transparent Codes of Conduct (CoCs) to restore public confidence and protect the sector’s operational capacity. While NGOs may tailor their own CoC, we propose five essential policies:
- Increased transparency and accountability across their funding and operations.
- Better collaboration and engagement with local organisations and other key stake holders to build community trust.
- Greater flexibility in operations, adapting to the cultural and political landscape of the countries in which they operate.
- A risk-based approach that allows Western influence, with its higher human rights standards, to grow in countries with poor human rights records, thereby preventing the spread of Chinese or Russian influence which has little regard for human rights.
- Improved messaging strategies to communicate their plans and values effectively – so as to avoid accusations of political bias and partiality in their operations and communications.
The recommendations in this report aim to help rebuild trust at this critical time and ensure NGOs remain a vital and effective part of our civil society community, fulfilling their core missions.
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