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Social and Environmental Compliance Unit - Case Registry

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Registration Card - SECU0002

    Project Name: Business Call to Action Alliance
    Date Complaint Filed:  Friday, February 12, 2016
    Date Complaint Registered:  Thursday, February 18, 2016
    Project Description: 
    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.
    Requestor(s): Confidentiality Requested
    Synopsis of Complaint:
    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.”
    News and Updates:
    • 1 June 2016 -- Press Release Regarding SECU's Uganda Field Work -- The Social and Environmental Compliance Unit (SECU), part of UNDP's Independent Accountability Mechanism, conducted field work in Uganda in connection to a complaint regarding Bidco Africa's membership into the Business Call to Action Alliance (BCtA). UNDP is the Secretariat for the BCtA. SECU is mandated to investigate UNDP’s compliance with its own policies and procedures. SECU does not have a monitoring role with respect to human rights, and is not pursuing such a role with respect to Bidco company activities in Uganda.
    Project Details
    Atlas/Project #
    Unknown
    Project Risk Category
    Unknown
    Implementing Partner
    • UNDP - 
    Financial Information
    Uganda