The Business Call to Action Alliance is a global joint advocacy platform providing public recognition for the private sector’s contribution to development. BCtA’s mission is to challenge companies to advance core business activities that are inclusive of poor populations and thus contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals. Worldwide, 94 companies have responded to BCtA by making commitments to improve the lives and livelihoods of millions through commercially-viable business ventures that engage low-income people as consumers, producers, suppliers, and distributors of goods and services. 

The Complainant claims that UNDP’s partnership with Bidco Africa is in violation of UNDP’s core mission and principles, and that the “Business Call to Action” project failed to properly screen Bidco Africa as a partner given Bidco’s alleged history of human rights, environmental, and other violations. The Complainant claims that Bidco Africa violates “all U.N. Global Compact principals” and that UNDP should “examine the morally questionable association of such a distinguished U.N. organization with such a blatant violator of human rights…”. The Complainant requests UNDP “must immediately disassociate itself with such a company.”