The two components of this research program aim to: (1) improve current data and methods of poverty and inequality analysis, and (2) use the improved data and existing data sources to better understand what makes “pro-poor growth.” A number of specific research questions have been identified under each heading. The paper outlines the motivation for the choices of those questions and how we propose to answer them. The paper refers to relevant literature along the way. In addition, for Component 2 a background paper is included with this proposal (Ravallion, 2001b); the background paper goes into greater depth on how that component relates to past work.