The global financial crisis poses significant challenges to fiscal policies in Sub-Saharan African countries. This paper provides an overview of the macroeconomic situation of Sub-Saharan African countries at the onset of the crisis and how the crisis is affecting the region’s economies. The paper also highlights the main channels through which the crisis is likely to affect the fiscal position of these countries and sets out general conditions that need to be considered in setting fiscal policies in Sub-Saharan African countries.