Simon Fisher obituary

Simon Fisher, who has died aged 77, was a pioneering figure in conflict transformation and humanitarian work. He founded Responding to Conflict in 1992, an initiative dedicated to training individuals worldwide in non-violent conflict resolution and reconciliation. Fisher’s career included significant roles such as country representative for Oxfam in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) from 1987 to 1991, where he managed health, agriculture, and income generation programs while promoting the recruitment of local staff. Born in Kuala Lumpur and educated in the UK, Fisher’s early career was rooted in education, teaching modern languages and social studies before moving into global development and peace work. He and his wife Jane lived in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and Botswana, where they engaged with local communities and supported anti-apartheid efforts through Quaker Peace & Service for Southern Africa. His experience in these regions shaped his commitment to fostering constructive change through dialogue and strategic planning. After returning to the UK, Fisher’s Responding to Conflict initiative became a global platform for training practitioners in conflict transformation, attracting participants from diverse backgrounds. He worked extensively across Africa, South Asia, and the former Soviet Union, providing training and support to NGOs, government bodies, and community leaders. From 2004, he focused on Zimbabwe, collaborating with local organizations and authorities on conflict analysis and peacebuilding strategies. Fisher also contributed to peace education in Cambodia through the Centre for Peace Studies and taught at Oxford Brookes University’s Centre for Development. His work left a lasting impact on the field of conflict resolution, emphasizing the power of non-violent change and the importance of local ownership in peace processes.