Responding to Conflict

Responding to Conflict (RTC) is a non-governmental organisation based in Birmingham, England. RTC strives to provide training, advice, and support to people working for peace and human rights in areas affected by war or violent conflict. In 2011, RTC won the Coventry International Prize for Peace and Reconciliation in recognition for its work in training peace practitioners to become effective peace builders in their communities.
RTC's ethic to approaching Peacebuilding and conflict transformation involves a number of key working principles:
* By invitation - believing that external organisations can play a vital role in peacebuilding, but that this must be by invitation from those who live in and are affected by violent conflict
* In partnership - always seeking to establish partnerships with local organisations to ensure that the work is sustainable in the long-term and relevant for those involved
* Understanding root causes- Understanding the root causes of conflict through thorough analysis is vital. It is only through such analysis that the key players and relationships can be identified and appropriate responses to a specific conflict can be made
* Long-term - aiming to provide long-term professional skills-based accompaniment for partners in their own situations to ensure that they have the support they need to make their own interventions and ensure sustainable change
* Learning - seeing learning from practice and from partners as vital to the success of the work and to improve future interventions
Using these principles, RTC has assisted both grass-roots activists and governmental agencies. Such specialist advice and consultancy services has been provided to the governments of the UK, Australia, Japan, the United Nations Development Programme, and leading International NGO's and charities such as Oxfam GB, Christian Aid, AGEH, Care International, CAFOD, the American Friends Service Committee and a variety of Red Cross national societies. RTC has also designed and managed programmes in the Middle East, the Balkans, East Africa and South East Asia.
Since it was founded in 1991 by Simon Fisher, RTC has established itself as a leader in the field of conflict transformation. Its main publication, the handbook "Working with Conflict: Skills and Strategies for Action", is acknowledged as a key resource for practitioners, trainers and academics throughout the world and has been translated into eight languages.
As well as offering consultancies, RTC trainings make up a significant amount of its work. Through training courses such as "Working With Conflict" and "Strengthening Policy and Practice", RTC has trained practitioners from more than 70 countries including those from some of the world's most violent conflicts.

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