Bassirou A. Sarr, co-discussant of the IMF study, is Advisor in the External Relations Department of the International Monetary Fund. Between 2002 and 2004 he was in charge of the IMF dialogue with labor organizations and faith groups and represented the Fund in a number of outreach activities with media and civil society organisations in Africa. For the last three years he was the Director of the IMF-East Africa Regional Technical Assistance Center (East-AFRITAC) located in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The Center provides technical assistance and capacity building for the seven beneficiary countries (Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda) in the areas of IMF expertise. As an IMF Economist he worked in the Fiscal Affairs Department and the African Department and participated in various Fund missions in Africa, the Middle East and Europe. He was also an advisor in the Executive Director office representing most French-speaking African countries. Before joining the IMF in 1983, Mr. Sarr worked as an economist in the Ministry of Planning and Mining of Mauritania and as an economist in the Planning and Research Department of the African Development Bank. His current work in the External Relations Department focuses on strengthening relations between the IMF and civil society organizations, research and think-tanks groups as well as facilitating outreach to various non-governmental organizations.