Stories of local knowledge

Abstract

This chapter introduces ten case studies of how local knowledge is generated, managed and used for influencing policy and community practices. The cases are from Aceh, Java, South Sulawesi, East Nusa Tenggara, Kalimantan and Maluku, and address issues such as forest management, water resources, maritime resource management, financial services, resistance against exploitative mining, health insurance and other community development topics. The stories present diverse understanding about what the knowledge to policy process means for local actors and how different communities can engage in the policy process; however, they share the same belief that involving citizen and communities in policymaking will lead to better policy through democratization of public policy making process.