Lokakarya

Lokakarya is an Indonesian term for a workshop or training event that brings together participants to learn, discuss, and solve problems in a collaborative setting. The format emphasizes interaction, practical exercises, and the production of concrete outputs rather than one-way lectures. Lokakarya are commonly used by government agencies, universities, non-governmental organizations, and private companies to share knowledge, build skills, and facilitate collective planning.

Typical lokakarya last anywhere from a few hours to several days and combine presentations, demonstrations, group work, case studies, and hands-on activities. A facilitator or subject expert leads the sessions, while participants contribute through discussions, problem-solving tasks, and the development of draft materials, recommendations, or action plans. Supporting materials such as handouts, toolkits, and templates are often provided.

Lokakarya are employed for various purposes, including capacity building, policy development, program design, technical training, and stakeholder engagement. They can be regional, national, or sector-specific, and are often used to disseminate new guidelines, gather feedback, or build consensus. The format supports peer learning and networking and may incorporate evaluation to measure learning outcomes or impact.

Related concepts include workshop, training, and capacity building.