Locus is committed to making it easier to do business in our client's countries. An improved business environment attracts investment, creates jobs, and improves living standards for those at all levels of society.

One example of our work at improving business environments comes from Burkina Faso. From 2005 to 2007, Locus founder and CEO Jean-Paul Gauthier led the World Bank / International Finance Corporation's (IFC) "Doing Business Better" Project for Burkina Faso. The project analyzed key problems businesses face in the country and recommended reforms. Jean-Paul designed legal, regulatory, technical, administrative, and institutional "quick fix" solutions to improving Burkina Faso's rankings in the Doing Business Report, with a view to improving 10 indicators substantially by 2010.

The results were phenomenal. In the three years following the project, Burkina Faso rose from having the 163rd best business environment (out of 175 economies) to the 148th best (out of 181) as measured by the World Bank's Doing Business Group. In 2009, the government was rated among the top 10 best reformers in the world.

The Burkina Faso Doing Business Better Project also spun off several supporting sub-projects, including the Burkina Faso Trade Logistics project, the Burkina Alternative Disputes Resolution project, and a project to reform the withholding tax regime, the commercial justice system, 22 types of business licenses, and the insolvency and creditors rights system.