Indonesia is engaged in a major governmental transition from centralized planning into the decentralization of administrative responsibilities to the level of the Kabupaten (District) and Kotamadya (City) administration. The success of this decentralisation program depends critically on accurate and timely data related to social, demographic and economic trends for over 440 relatively small districts and cities. This is important not only for economic development but also for political and social cohesion, and especially for poverty alleviation programs. In planning such programs, local governments need access to empirical evidence on the issues they face. This project provides the knowledge base to support such assessments.