
LONDON – JANUARY 2026 — The Business Development Association (BDA) has officially published the 2026 Global Edition, Version 2.0 of the Business Development Body of Competency and Knowledge (BDA BoCK™) — setting a new benchmark for the global business development profession.
This release represents a major evolution from the 2025 Foundation Edition and introduces a more integrated, comprehensive, and future-oriented framework that reflects the real-world complexity of today’s business development landscape.
What’s New in the 2026 Edition?
The BDA BoCK 2026 is not just an update it is a strategic framework designed to define and professionalize the business development discipline across all sectors.
Key enhancements include:
- A new BD Capability Model that unifies behavioral, cognitive, and technical competencies
- The introduction of BD Performance Domains, expanding the scope of strategic application
- Full alignment with BDA-CP™ (Certified Professional) and BDA-SCP™ (Senior Certified Professional) certification pathways
- Sector-inclusive use cases across private, public, NGO, and multilateral environments
- Embedded guidance for talent development, capability assessment, and role-based growth
With these changes, BDA BoCK 2026 becomes the most comprehensive business development competency framework available globally.
Built on Global Research. Reviewed by Experts.
The BDA BoCK™ 2026 was developed based on extensive research and field practice analysis, drawing insights from thousands of business development professionals across sectors, organization types, and geographies.
It was reviewed by a specialist panel of senior practitioners, organizational leaders, and academic contributors, ensuring that the framework reflects current realities and future needs of the profession.
Why BDA BoCK 2026 Matters for BD Professionals and Organizations
As business development evolves into a data-driven, cross-functional, and ecosystem-centered discipline, the need for a globally aligned competency framework is more urgent than ever.
The BDA BoCK 2026 offers:
- A clear definition of what business development is — and isn’t
- A shared language for BD roles, skills, and strategy
- A foundation for designing training, internal frameworks, and certification pathways
- Tools for auditing and improving business development capability
From early-career specialists to senior strategists, this edition defines the standards that the global market now expects.
A Framework for the Profession — Not Just a Toolkit
Unlike traditional models focused on sales or marketing enablement, the BDA BoCK™ positions business development as an integrated, strategic function with its own competencies, career architecture, and systems.
This edition reinforces the profession’s standing with:
- A clear definition of business development as a discipline
- A unified competency language across markets and industries
- Structured pathways for talent development, certification, and capability assessment
- Integration with the BDA-CP™ (Certified Professional) and BDA-SCP™ (Senior Certified Professional) certifications for professional recognition
Designed for Organizations and Institutions Alike
Whether applied in a corporate, nonprofit, government, or multilateral setting, the 2026 BoCK™ provides a consistent, globally aligned foundation for:
- Building BD teams
- Designing internal capability development
- Structuring training aligned to measurable outcomes
- Auditing institutional readiness for growth and partnerships
- Advancing professional careers in BD
Access the New Global Standard
The BDA BoCK™ 2026 Global Edition (Version 2.0) is now available for download, open-access, via the official BDA Knowledge Centre. It is offered in alignment with BDA’s mission to advance the profession through publicly available standards, open learning, and collaborative growth.
About BDA
The Business Development Association (BDA) is the global authority for the business development profession. Headquartered in London with regional presence in the MENA region and beyond, BDA offers professional certifications, strategic partnerships, membership programs, and a publicly accessible competency framework all designed to elevate the role of business development worldwide.




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