Global South AI Policy Framework
A working framework for AI governance tailored to the institutional realities of developing economies.
Read More →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. Through Atlas AI Institute he has also built software and products including the Nagorik AI Assistant, FactCheckBD, Atlas OS, and the Atlas AII Global AI Policy Hub. He is a policy network member of CIVICUS, a member of the Internet Society, and a member of the Responsible AI Hub. View his publications at nafiulahmadrafi.com/publication/, his governance framework at nafiulahmadrafi.com/framework/, his software and products at nafiulahmadrafi.com/software-products/, his latest insights at nafiulahmadrafi.com/insights/, and book a consultation at nafiulahmadrafi.com/get-appointment/.
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.
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Founding Director — Atlas AI Institute Global South AI Governance & Policy Research · atlasai.institute
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National AI Policy Endorser — AI Policy Lab Umeå University, Sweden
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Policy Network Member — CIVICUS World Alliance for Citizen Participation · Global AI Policy Initiatives
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Member — Internet Society ISOC · Global Internet Policy & Digital Inclusion
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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 & Social Profiles
75Country AI Policy & Gov. SWOT
GSAI Policy Framework Working
35Gov. Assessments
8+Publications
Building AI governance capacity for Bangladesh and the Global South
Nafiul Ahmad Rafi works at the intersection of technology policy and institutional development — helping Bangladesh, South Asia, and other developing economies build the regulatory capacity needed to adopt AI responsibly, without depending on frameworks built for entirely different contexts.
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01
Regulatory Capacity AssessmentEvaluating institutional readiness for AI governance across Bangladesh and comparable developing economies.
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Global South AI PolicyComparative policy analysis and governance SWOT frameworks spanning 75 countries.
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03
Multilateral AI GovernanceAdvancing equitable representation of developing economies in international AI standard-setting.
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Digital Inclusion & Civic TechnologyConnecting governance research to civic technology and digital inclusion outcomes on the ground.
Based in Dhaka, I lead Atlas AI Institute's research agenda while serving as National AI Policy Endorser at the AI Policy Lab, Umeå University, Sweden — bridging local policy realities in Bangladesh with international governance discourse.
Selected research
Comparative policy analysis and governance frameworks for developing and emerging economies.
75-Country AI Governance SWOT
Comparative policy and governance SWOT analysis across 75 countries, with emphasis on the Global South.
Read More →Institutional Readiness in Bangladesh
Assessing regulatory capacity and governance infrastructure for AI adoption in Bangladesh.
Read More →A four-part approach to AI governance readiness
The Global South AI Policy Framework assesses institutional readiness across four dimensions.
01
Assess
Map existing regulatory capacity and institutional gaps.
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Compare
Benchmark against comparable developing economies.
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Design
Draft governance frameworks fit for local context.
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Advocate
Represent Global South interests in multilateral forums.
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.
AI Governance & Policy Research
National AI strategy, regulatory frameworks, and governance models built for developing and emerging economies.
Nagorik AI Assistant
An AI assistant that helps citizens navigate public services, government processes, and civic information — in plain language.
Climate Intelligence
Real-time climate, disaster, and environmental information for at-risk communities.
Digital Public Infrastructure
Open, scalable digital systems designed for public institutions and civic use.
Atlas AI Institute · Frameworks & Publications
View All
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.
Global South AI Policy Framework
An AI governance policy framework built for adoption across Global South nations, published by Atlas AI Institute.
Bangladesh National AI Policy Framework
A national AI policy framework for Bangladesh, published by Atlas AI Institute.
AI Policy Analysis: 40 Global South Countries
A comparative AI policy analysis covering 40 Global South countries, published by Atlas AI Institute.
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 on AI governance and policy for Bangladesh and the Global South, published by Atlas AI Institute.
View Books →
Project
View Project →
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 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
35+Nations
200+Policies
12Frameworks
9Reports
Atlas AI Institute · Software & Products
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My software & products
Applied AI governance research turned into working software — civic tools, policy intelligence systems, and open infrastructure built for Bangladesh, South Asia, and the Global South.
Nagorik AI Assistant
An AI assistant that helps citizens navigate public services and government processes in plain language.
FactCheckBD
A fact-checking platform built to counter misinformation and strengthen information integrity in Bangladesh.
Atlas OS
A Linux-based operating system built for Android hardware — open, affordable, and privacy-respecting.
Atlas AII Global AI Policy Hub
Centralized policy intelligence infrastructure aggregating AI governance data across 35+ countries.
Systems Engineering · Open Infrastructure
Atlas OS
A Linux operating system built by Nafiul Ahmad Rafi for Android hardware — designed to extend the useful life of low-cost devices, protect user privacy, and give citizens an open, sovereign alternative to closed mobile operating systems. Atlas OS gives Bangladesh, South Asia, and the wider Global South an open, affordable, and privacy-respecting computing platform.
Linux-Based
Built for Android
Open & Sovereign
Privacy-First
AI advisory for organizations making consequential decisions
Beyond research and policy publications, I advise companies, governments, NGOs, and universities directly — helping them assess AI readiness, establish governance and risk controls, develop policy frameworks, and turn AI opportunities into responsible organizational strategy.
AI Readiness Advisory
AI Governance & Risk Advisory
AI Policy & Framework Development
AI Strategy & Transformation Advisory
Media & press coverage
National press coverage, programme appearances, and judging engagements — documenting Nafiul Ahmad Rafi's public work on AI governance and policy for Bangladesh and the Global South.
Pinned · The Daily Star
Before AI enters Bangladesh's justice system, we must decide who is accountable
An op-ed published in The Daily Star arguing that Bangladesh must resolve questions of accountability before artificial intelligence is deployed within the justice system — examining who answers for AI-assisted decisions in courts, tribunals, and law enforcement.
The Daily Star
Op-Ed
AI & Justice
Accountability
Latest insights
Commentary and updates on AI governance, policy, and the Global South — automatically updated with every new post.
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Let's Collaborate
Get in Touch
Shaping AI governance for the Global South
Research partnerships, policy consultation, and speaking engagements — for Bangladesh, South Asia, and developing economies worldwide.