Report of the first meeting of the Task Force on Sub Saharan Africa, held in Paris in September 1986, with the participation of the Sub-Committee of Center Directors on Sub-Saharan Africa and co-chaired by Guy Camus and Laurence Stifel. The purpose of the Task Force was to propose mechanisms for coordinating IARC programs conducted in collaboration with national research systems in Sub Saharan Africa, and facilitating cooperation between IARCs and NARS in the region. Members accepted the action program suggested at the Task Force's June 1986 preparatory meeting, which involved selecting an agroecologically defined sub region in which to set up a pilot coordinating mechanism. CIMMYT was asked to prepare a proposal for maize-based production systems in the mid-altitude zone of the southern Africa region. Annexes include the Task Force's terms of reference, a list of participants, and the summary record of the preparatory meeting held at CIAT headquarters during TAC 40. Agenda document, CGIAR International Centers Week, November 1986. The subject was also discussed at TAC 4