Burundi. This forum was an opportunity to review and strategize going forward with the new Cabinet members (following recent elections) to demonstrate the effectiveness of the L4R approach and gain buy-in for its continued support. Session discussions focused on identifying potential solutions and designing action plans to confront challenges surrounding the evolving three priority areas of concern to the government at the time: (i) economic growth, (ii) public finance and fiscal space, and (iii) good governance<sup>19</sup> which were directly aligned with the three themes of the World Bank Africa Strategy 2011: Competitiveness and employment; Vulnerability and resilience; Governance and public sector capacity. These areas highlighted the need to further strengthen the delivery capability of the public sector. Following a request from the President<sup>20</sup> in February, multiple RRIs were launched to translate into action the recommendations emerging from this retreat.

Of concern to the Cabinet throughout 2011 was the dismal ranking of Burundi on the World Bank Group’s Doing Business Indicators (its DB 2011 ranking was 177 of 183)<sup>21</sup> : they wanted to undertake concrete initiatives that would help the country improve its rankings. One indicator was ‘Getting Electricity’ and so, building upon previous efforts since 2009 to improve the service delivery of water and electricity as mentioned above, an RRI was launched to increase the rate at which new clients were connected to the national electric grid. The RRI introduced a streamlined approach whereby clients make just one payment at the time of connection (rather than an application fee and later a connection fee), reducing administrative requirements and processing time for the responsible agency. Consequently, delays in connection times, which had previously been three months, were reduced to a more reasonable wait time of two months. With the results from this successful REGIDESO<sup>22</sup> initiative in early 2011, supported by the IFC (the private sector arm of the World Bank Group), Burundi managed to improve its Doing Business ranking from 177 in 2011 to 169<sup>23</sup> in 2012 and featured among the top 10 economies that improved the most worldwide on the ease of doing business in 2010/2011.<sup>24</sup> The DB Indicators cover not only ‘Getting Electricity’ but also indicators relating to warehouses more broadly, including construction permits and connection to utilities other than electricity – such as water. Drawing on the innovations and learning from the RRI piloted on connecting electricity, a subsequent RRI was launched by the same REGIDESO unit in June 2011 to expand this success to include their work on connecting clients to the water supply. This initiative led to a reduction in connection time to both water and electricity supplies in the capital city, Bujumbura, from 3 months to 1 month. By 19 World Bank, April 2011

> 20 " _To sustain economic performance, we must demand greater efficiency, and we expect results from all sectors... In this regard, we have already motivated people towards improved accountability, planning and performance using the Rapid Results Approach. We are confident that this improved performance is proof that sound management means the needs of the public become reality_ ". Pierre Nkurunziza, President of the Republic of Burundi, 14th February 2011 during the Belgian Week in Bujumbura, a yearly event aiming to promote trade and investment between Burundi and its main economic partner, Association de Reflexion et d’Information sur le Burundi, February 2011.

> 21 World Bank/IFC (2012) World Bank and IFC, _Doing Business Economy Profile 2012: Burundi_

> 22 The state electricity company in Burundi, which sits under the Ministry of Energy, Water and Mining

> 23 Although the published ranking in the 2012 Doing Business report, this was adjusted in the 2013 Doing Business Economy Profile for Burundi in 2012 to 172. This was necessary to reflect the fact that two economies (Barbados and Malta) were added to the DB sample that year.

> 24 World Bank and International Finance Corporation, _Doing Business in the East Africa Community 2012_

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