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Nafiul Ahmad Rafi is an AI governance and public policy researcher based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, working on behalf of South Asia and the Global South. He is the Founding Director of Atlas AI Institute and National AI Policy Endorser at the AI Policy Lab, Umeå University, Sweden. His research focuses on AI regulatory frameworks, institutional readiness for AI governance, and equitable representation of Bangladesh and other developing economies in multilateral AI governance processes. He has analyzed AI governance infrastructure across 75 countries and produced the Global South AI Policy Framework and 8 publications. He is a policy network member of CIVICUS — World Alliance for Citizen Participation, a member of the Internet Society, and a member of the Responsible AI Hub. Contact and more information at nafiulahmadrafi.com and atlasai.institute.

AI Governance & Public Policy · Dhaka, Bangladesh

Nafiul AhmadRafi

AI governance researcher and policy architect based in Bangladesh — examining regulatory capacity, governance infrastructure, and policy frameworks for responsible AI adoption in developing and emerging economies.

  • Founding Director — Atlas AI Institute Global South AI Governance & Policy Research ·
  • National AI Policy Endorser — AI Policy Lab , Sweden
  • Policy Network Member — CIVICUS World Alliance for Citizen Participation · Global AI Policy Initiatives
  • Member — Internet Society ISOC · Global Internet Policy & Digital Inclusion
  • Member — Responsible AI Hub AI Ethics, Safety & Accountability Network

My research examines the governance infrastructure and regulatory capacity required for responsible AI adoption in developing economies — with emphasis on institutional readiness and equitable participation in international norm-setting forums. Through Atlas AI Institute, I advance Global South perspectives in multilateral AI governance processes.

Research Program Framework Learn More
Research & Social Profiles
75 Country AI Policy & Gov. SWOT
GS AI Policy Framework Working
35 Gov. Assessments
8+ Publications

The Global AI Policy Observatory is Atlas AI Institute's flagship comparative research program led by Nafiul Ahmad Rafi, analyzing AI governance and policy across 75 countries using a standardized framework of more than 30 governance dimensions. The Observatory produces 75 independent country research reports covering national AI strategies, regulatory frameworks, institutional capacity, responsible AI practices, public sector AI adoption, and policy implementation maturity. The research is freely accessible at nafiulahmadrafi.com/global-ai-policy-observatory/ and is grounded in the Atlas Global South AI Policy Framework (AG-SAIPF). Atlas AI Institute is based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, serving South Asia and the Global South.

Global Research Initiative · Atlas AI Institute

Global AI Policy Observatory

AG-SAIPF — Atlas Global South AI Policy Framework

Atlas AI Institute's flagship comparative research program analyzing AI governance across 75 countries. The Observatory provides independent assessments of national AI strategies, regulatory frameworks, institutional capacity, responsible AI practices, public sector adoption, and policy implementation using a standardized framework spanning more than 30 governance dimensions.

  • 🌍 75 Countries
  • 📘 75 Research Reports
  • 🏛️ 30+ Governance Dimensions
  • 🌐 Global Comparative Research
Key Governance Dimensions Assessed
  • National AI Strategy
  • Regulatory Framework
  • Institutional Capacity
  • Responsible AI
  • Public Sector Adoption
  • Policy Implementation
  • Data Governance
  • AI Ethics & Accountability
  • Digital Infrastructure
  • AI Talent Ecosystem

Open Access · CC BY 4.0 · atlasai.institute

AI Policy & Governance · Bangladesh & the Global South

Building AI for Good

Turning AI governance research into practical solutions for citizens, climate resilience, and digital public infrastructure — led by Atlas AI Institute, an independent research center focused on developing economies across South Asia and the wider Global South.

  • 🏛️

    Governance

    AI Governance & Policy Research

    National AI strategy, regulatory frameworks, and governance models built for developing and emerging economies.

  • 💬

    Citizen Services

    Nagorik AI Assistant

    An AI assistant that helps citizens navigate public services, government processes, and civic information — in plain language.

  • 🌍

    Resilience

    Climate Intelligence

    Real-time climate, disaster, and environmental information for at-risk communities.

  • 📊

    Infrastructure

    Digital Public Infrastructure

    Open, scalable digital systems designed for public institutions and civic use.

Explore NagorikBD AI for Good

Atlas AI Institute

Frameworks & Publications

AI governance frameworks and comparative research for Bangladesh and the Global South — designed to be adopted, not just cited.

Atlas AI Institute publishes AI policy frameworks, comparative governance research, and books on artificial intelligence regulation built specifically for Bangladesh and the wider Global South, including a national AI policy framework for Bangladesh, a regional Global South AI policy framework, a 40-country Global South comparative AI policy analysis, and the Global AI Policy Maturity Index (GAPMI) 2026 — authored by Nafiul Ahmad Rafi, Founder and Lead Researcher of Atlas AI Institute.

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  • Policy Framework

    Global South AI Policy Framework

    An AI governance policy framework built for adoption across Global South nations, published by Atlas AI Institute.
  • Policy Framework

    Bangladesh National AI Policy Framework

    A national AI policy framework for Bangladesh, published by Atlas AI Institute.
  • Comparative Analysis

    AI Policy Analysis: 40 Global South Countries

    A comparative AI policy analysis covering 40 Global South countries, published by Atlas AI Institute.
  • Research Report

    Global AI Policy Maturity Index (GAPMI) 2026

    A comparative assessment of AI governance maturity across ten leading AI nations, published July 2026 by Atlas AI Institute.
  • Books

    Books

    Books on AI governance and policy for Bangladesh and the Global South, published by Atlas AI Institute.

A Dream Built for Everyone

An AI policy and governance system by Nafiul Ahmad Rafi, Atlas AI Institute — a dream project to make AI work for everyone, built on rights and ethics.

Featured: Atlas AII
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Featured Project · Policy Intelligence

Atlas AI Institute Global AI Policy Hub

An AI policy and governance system built by Nafiul Ahmad Rafi through Atlas AI Institute — a dream project to make AI work for everyone, grounded in rights and ethics. Atlas AII aggregates institutional-grade AI policy data, governance frameworks, and legislative landscapes across 35+ countries, serving as centralized research infrastructure for policymakers, researchers, think tanks, and international organizations — aligned with UNESCO, OECD, NIST, and G20 standards.

35+ Countries Covered Policy Intelligence Global South Focus Real-Time Data Governance Analytics Open Access
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35+ Nations
200+ Policies
12 Frameworks
9 Dimensions

Research

Research, Policy Papers & Working Papers

My research focuses on AI governance, regulatory capacity, digital public infrastructure, and public policy for developing and emerging economies. Through Atlas AI Institute, I publish policy frameworks, comparative country analyses, working papers, and governance research designed to support policymakers, researchers, development organizations, and civil society.

Featured Research

Global AI Policy Observatory Series

Comparative AI governance research across 75 countries — national strategies, regulatory approaches, and implementation capacity.

Bangladesh National AI Policy Framework (2026–2035)

A national AI governance framework covering institutional architecture, responsible AI, and digital sovereignty.

Atlas Global South AI Policy Framework (AG-SAIPF)

A development-first reference architecture for practical AI governance in emerging economies.

Working Papers & Policy Briefs

Independent research on AI governance, institutional readiness, and digital public infrastructure.

Books

Published and forthcoming books on AI governance and public policy for emerging economies.

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Tools & Software

Tools & Software I Build

Live AI policy research platforms and MIT-licensed open-source software built by Nafiul Ahmad Rafi — spanning AI governance benchmarking, comparative policy research, financial-crime detection, disaster anticipation, and humanitarian data security, engineered to international methodological standards.

View All Tools →
  • 5+ live platforms
  • 6+ open-source tools
  • 75 countries covered
  • MIT licensed & open

Live Platforms

  • AI Policy Intelligence Live AI Policy Index

    Live platform benchmarking national AI strategies against OECD, UNESCO, EU AI Act, and NIST RMF frameworks — with capability-fit scoring, gap analysis, and reform roadmaps across 12+ reference countries.

  • Comparative Policy Research Live Global AI Policy Observatory

    Comparative AI governance research across 75 countries, analyzed through 30+ governance dimensions — national strategies, institutions, regulatory approaches, and implementation capacity, all in one page.

Open-Source Software (MIT Licensed)

  • Policy Impact Analysis MIT PolicyLens AI

    A nine-dimension policy audit tool scoring proposed policies for cultural fit, economic feasibility, legal compatibility, human rights, corruption risk, governance quality, SDG alignment, environmental impact, and social equity — referencing World Bank, OECD, Transparency International, and UN data sources.

  • Financial Crime Detection MIT Ghost Cluster AML Intelligence

    An open-source anti-money-laundering platform pairing graph-based mule-network and bot-transaction detection with AI-assisted suspicious-activity reporting — built with Bangladesh's BFIU reporting regime in mind, for compliance teams and AML researchers.

  • Disaster Anticipation MIT PAG System — Bangladesh

    A real-time predictive anticipatory governance system for flood, cyclone, and drought risk in Bangladesh, combining meteorological, hydrological, IoT, and satellite data streams with anomaly detection and automated Bangla-language policy briefings for local authorities.

  • Humanitarian Data Security MIT NGO Secure Field Entry Tool

    An offline-first, encrypted data-collection tool for humanitarian field operations — beneficiary identity and location data are AES-256 encrypted at entry and unlock only with a dedicated hardware key, aligned with ICRC data-protection and Sphere Handbook principles.

5+ live platforms and 6+ open-source tools — full details, live links, and source code for every tool are on the complete tools page.

View All Tools →
Research & Insights

Policy Insights & Analysis

All Insights →

Original policy research, frameworks & analysis on AI governance, digital sovereignty, and Global South development — published under Insights Bangladesh and Political Insights BD.

ORCID Profile All Publications →

Media · Featured Programme

Judging the IUT Datathon

Serving as a judge at the IUT All Engineering University Datathon programme, evaluating student teams' data and AI-driven solutions — one of several talks, judging panels, and programmes covered on the Media page.

  • Nafiul Ahmad Rafi with participating student teams at the IUT All Engineering University Datathon

    With participating student teams — IUT Datathon

  • Nafiul Ahmad Rafi judging at the IUT All Engineering University Datathon programme

    IUT All Engineering University Datathon — Judging Panel

  • Nafiul Ahmad Rafi reviewing student team presentations at the IUT Datathon

    Reviewing student team presentations

  • Nafiul Ahmad Rafi on the judging panel at the IUT All Engineering University Datathon

    On the judging panel, IUT Datathon

  • Nafiul Ahmad Rafi at the IUT All Engineering University Datathon programme

    IUT All Engineering University Datathon

More events, talks, and programmes on the Media page.

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Weekly Newsletter

The Global AI Policy Analysis

Weekly analysis of AI governance, regulation, and policy developments from around the world — published on LinkedIn.

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Get in Touch

Let's Connect

Based in Dhaka, Bangladesh — working across South Asia & the Global South

Interested in collaborations on AI governance, digital sovereignty, or cybersecurity research? Reach out directly or connect on professional networks.

Running Atlas AI Institute and leading research on AI policy frameworks for Bangladesh, South Asia, and the wider Global South. Always open to discussions on emerging technologies and governance challenges facing developing and emerging economies across Asia.

Ready to discuss research & collaborations across Bangladesh, South Asia & the Global South?

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