In pursuant of its mission of promoting evidence-based policies, AIAE has commenced the process for the second cycle of the Business Environment and Competitiveness across Nigerian States (BECANS) programme. BECANS started in 2003 as AIAE flagship programme designed to improve the relevance and impact of business environment research and advocacy at the subnational level. BECANS is the first-ever business environment benchmarking assessment across the 36 states of the country and the Federal Capital Territory.
BECANS involves a system of research, dissemination and advocacy that connects stakeholders including federal government agencies, state government agencies, private sector and civil society organisations. The essence of the programme is to supply stakeholders with reliable and independent evidence to inform, guide and stimulate reforms and better policies to make business environment more competitive.

The first cycle of BECANS was implemented with collaboration of government agencies including Central Bank of Nigeria, National Planning Commission, State Governments' Economic Planning Ministries/Commissions and private sector organisations including Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Nigerian Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Power, Nigerian Economic Summit Group Ltd/Gte and Human Rights Law Services (HURILAWS). The first cycle climaxed into the launching of the first-ever business environment reports on Nigerian States, by His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Like the first cycle, the second cycle will follow successive stages starting from the review of the research instrument, consultation and mobilisation, collection of data, analysis of data and writing of reports. The BECANS business environment model is defined along four dimensions: infrastructure and utilities; regulatory services; business support and investment promotion; and security. Each benchmark is further divided into several pillars called measures which are evaluated based on a variable set of indicators. The measures and indicators are outcomes of research into the factors that impinge the business environment across the country.

The BECANS programme has proved effective in influencing state-level reforms for better business environment. Many states have reacted to the BECANS results by making positive adjustments in administrative procedures and institutional processes that increase efficiency of service delivery in such areas as tax collection, land administration, business support and entrepreneurship development. The benchmarking of states against one another has put increased pressure on state governments to take appropriate measures to shape a more friendly business climate. Mutual learning has been promoted across the states through the dissemination of good practices. Good practices in some states have provided direct examples of what can be done in other states; in some cases, states have obtained insights on how the good practices are working.

The second cycle will build on the successes and lessons of the first cycle. The participation of stakeholders, particularly, state-level private sector and civil society organisations, will be strengthened to ensure strategic engagement towards more effective and sustained advocacy. Also, engagement with state governments will span the entire gamut of the second cycle beginning from the review of the data collection template, supply of relevant data and cooperation with field assessors. BECANS will engage with the state governments through their respective Ministries of Economic Planning or Planning Commissions.