ROOTED IN TRUST On the move during the COVID-19 pandemic Information, trust and influence among Venezuelans in Nariño, Colombia AN INFORMATION ECOSYSTEM ASSESSMENT BY INTERNEWS COLOMBIA - FEBRUARY, 2021 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY he Information Ecosystem demand and supply within migrant Analysis (IEA) aims to capture communities in Sections 3 and 4. This and study the information report analyzes their information access, environment in Nariño, Colombia needs, use, flows, and identifies means of Tduring the COVID-19 pandemic. The main trust and influence within the communi- objective of the report is to establish an ties of Tumaco and Ipiales. understanding of information dynamics in the context of Venezuelan refugee and Following this research, the fifth section migrant populations in the Colombia- of this report examines the dynamics Ecuador border region, taking a specific between the information supply and the look at the LGBTQI+ migrant community. needs of the community, and the effects these have on trust and behavior. The Through a combination of key informant sixth and final section outlines the hu- interviews, surveys, extensive desk re- manitarian response in Nariño during the All pictures illustrating this report are the work of search, and COVID-19-safe focus and pandemic and the challenges faced in documentary photographer and journalist Gerald listening groups, carried out by our part- getting accurate and relevant information Bermúdez. As part of the Rooted in Trust project, Internews provided grant funding to support ners, Caribe Afirmativo and Fedemedios, to the communities, especially groups in Gerald ‘s work to document migration on the this IEA explores trends of information Colombia-Ecuador border. vulnerable situations in Nariño. INFORMATION ECOSYSTEM ASSESSMENT 2 NARIÑO COLOMBIA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3. The Foundation for Press Freedom KEY FINDINGS (FLIP) is currently carrying out an INFORMATION SUPPLY online survey for journalists working Two-way dialogues 1. Information providers have not in border regions in Colombia and the and coordination sufficiently catered to the needs of inherent obstacles and dangers they refugees and migrants in the region, are confronted with amid COVID-19. between the migrant especially those in more vulnerable Identifying important physical risks situations such as LGBTQI+ refugees around safety and well-being during community and host and migrants and those with irregular a pandemic, needs to be guaranteed society don’t exist migrant status. Community leaders for so that journalists can carry out their Venezuelan associations have not been work accordingly as well as making directly involved into the reproduction available information relevant to those of media content but play a significant journalists working in Nariño. broadcasters. Without participation in role in the production and distribution of these programs, the unique informa- information for communities. 4. Two-way dialogues and coordination tion needs of refugees and migrants between the migrant community and during COVID-19 are not being met 2. Journalists and media platforms lack host society do not exist. The migrant through such channels. specific information on refugee and migrant and refugee community has very low rights, with information gaps on immigration interaction with the host society which 6. Political parties strongly dominate the status and legal rights. In addition, lack indicates exclusion and marginalization media sector and decide what topics of financing of media platforms and of the migrant community. receive more coverage than others. organizations results in the delay of Alternative media outlets usually bridge information dissemination and does not 5. Refugees and migrants are active gaps in information needs, catering to ensure that the community has timely community radio listeners but struggle smaller population groups and more access to important legal information. to participate in program creation with localized interests and knowledge. INFORMATION ECOSYSTEM ASSESSMENT 3 NARIÑO COLOMBIA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INFORMATION for these vulnerable groups. Other NEEDS AND GAPS reasons include institutional violence and impunity that build a lack of trust in 1. Migration dynamics: Tumaco and Ipiales the justice system and the authorities are both transit hubs and destinations as well as local media that reports on it. for refugees and migrants, people in transit and those who have the intention 3. Similar to the broader migrant to stay. Amid COVID-19, limited mobility community, the LGBTQI+ migrant has converted both cities into stationary community faces significant points for these communities. There information gaps related to are significant gaps of information prevention, about COVID-19, its prevention and treatment, signs treatment, and health rights. Refugees and symptoms and migrants with irregular status of COVID-19. expressed concerns about their eligibility In addition to access medical services. to not feeling sufficiently 2. High trust is registered in interna- informed, the fear tional humanitarian support, friends of stigmatization and family, international media and and denial of community health workers. Low trust medical support is registered in national and local gov- has led LGBTQI+ ernment entities which can be traced individuals to back to inconsistent messages on the delay pursuit of political stage and the lack of solutions medical INFORMATION ECOSYSTEM ASSESSMENT 4 NARIÑO COLOMBIA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY treatment, putting them at even greater HUMANITARIAN risk of being infected or suffering more COVID-19 RESPONSE severe symptoms. The double stigma 1. Humanitarian organizations do not of being both LGBTQI+ and a migrant maintain strong ties with community discourages and diminishes their access to information, further marginalizing the media platforms amid COVID-19 community. which indicates a gap of information flows between stakeholders. 4. Information regarding employment, education, access to humanitarian 2. Migrant and refugee leaders aid and local news is necessary for have limited trust towards official many refugees and migrants living government bodies and more trust in in precarious economic situations but humanitarian organizations. in general, these were areas in which participants did not feel well informed. 3. Members of the LGBTQI+ commu- nity expressed the need for a human- 5. There is a wide variety of information itarian approach that specifically fo- channels used by the migrant and cuses on the vulnerabilities and needs refugee community, including messag- of the LGBTQI+ community during the ing apps such as WhatsApp and Viber, pandemic. The present lack of knowl- social media platforms, Youtube and edge about these issues can further community radio stations. invisibilize their struggles. INFORMATION ECOSYSTEM ASSESSMENT 5 NARIÑO COLOMBIA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Information should be COVID-19 in Nariño, strengthening the RECOMMENDATIONS presented in accessible relationship between the host society Findings in this case study has led to three formats and languages and and the migrant communities would main categories of recommendations: help to dismantle prejudices and adapted to literacy levels decrease the potentially dangerous COMMUNITY within different migrant stigma that refugees and migrants PARTICIPATION AND face. Including refugees and migrants in ENGAGEMENT groups. local decision-making processes, such as local community group meetings, n Two-way communication mechanisms can bridge the gap between these two are necessary to ensure the communica- communities. tion of information about COVID-19 be- n Information should be presented in tween humanitarian organizations and accessible formats and languages and n Create media and information litera- communities in Nariño. These mecha- adapted to literacy levels within different cy programs for humanitarian organi- nisms must include ways of listening migrant groups. Especially considering zations to improve rumor management to concerns, feedback, myths, and the varying degrees of connectedness, on the information sharing platforms rumors about COVID-19 from the mi- refugees and migrants find themselves in, used by communities in vulnerable situa- grant community. Nariño is not only information should be distributed taking tions through trainings on digital inclusion a point of transit but a point of arrival into account areas with less access to and workshops focusing on rumor for a growing number of refugees and internet, in rural and remote parts of tracking mechanisms by Venezuelan migrants. Humanitarian organizations Nariño, with high instances of COVID-19 social media monitors. These programs can engage with the refugee and migrant and other safety issues. should provide skillful approaches for communities at migration offices or hu- sharing relevant information with vul- manitarian shelters as strategic points to n With rampant rumors on the rise around nerable groups and tackling stigma in a disseminate information. Venezuelan refugees and migrants and localized context. INFORMATION ECOSYSTEM ASSESSMENT 6 NARIÑO COLOMBIA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ACCESS TO the migrant community. are trusted, such a social media platforms INFORMATION, and influencers. Provide tailored health COMMUNICATION n Bridge the gap between host society information such as links between PLATFORMS AND MEDIA and refugee and migrant society by COVID-19 and co-morbidities, such as n Improve information dissemination offering local journalists’