Who is Nafiul Ahmad Rafi?

Nafiul Ahmad Rafi is an AI governance and public policy researcher based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He is the Founding Director of Atlas AI Institute and National AI Policy Endorser at the AI Policy Lab, Umeå University, Sweden.

What does Nafiul Ahmad Rafi research?

He researches AI governance infrastructure, regulatory capacity, and digital policy frameworks for developing economies, using comparative AI policy and governance SWOT analysis across 75 countries.

What is Atlas AI Institute?

Atlas AI Institute is a Global South AI governance research and policy intelligence institute founded by Nafiul Ahmad Rafi in Bangladesh.

Where is Nafiul Ahmad Rafi based?

He is based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and his research serves Bangladesh, South Asia, and the broader Global South.

Where can I read Nafiul Ahmad Rafi's latest insights?

His latest articles and commentary are published on the Insights section of his website, updated automatically whenever a new post is shared.

How can I collaborate with Nafiul Ahmad Rafi?

You can book an appointment through the Get in Touch link on his website, which connects to his scheduling page for research collaboration, speaking, and policy consultation requests.

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, 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 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.

Founding Director — Atlas AI Institute Global South AI Governance & Policy Research · atlasai.institute
National AI Policy Endorser — AI Policy Lab Umeå University, 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 & Publications Framework Get in Touch

Nafiul Ahmad Rafi — AI Governance Researcher and Policy Architect, Founding Director of Atlas AI Institute, based in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Research & Social Profiles

75Country AI Policy & Gov. SWOT

GSAI Policy Framework Working

35Gov. Assessments

8+Publications

About & Focus

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.

01
Regulatory Capacity Assessment
Evaluating institutional readiness for AI governance across Bangladesh and comparable developing economies.
02
Global South AI Policy
Comparative policy analysis and governance SWOT frameworks spanning 75 countries.
03
Multilateral AI Governance
Advancing equitable representation of developing economies in international AI standard-setting.
04
Digital Inclusion & Civic Technology
Connecting 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.

Research & Publications

Selected research

Comparative policy analysis and governance frameworks for developing and emerging economies.

Policy Framework

Global South AI Policy Framework

A working framework for AI governance tailored to the institutional realities of developing economies.

Comparative Analysis

75-Country AI Governance SWOT

Comparative policy and governance SWOT analysis across 75 countries, with emphasis on the Global South.

Bangladesh Focus

Institutional Readiness in Bangladesh

Assessing regulatory capacity and governance infrastructure for AI adoption in Bangladesh.

View All Publications

Framework

A four-part approach to AI governance readiness

The Global South AI Policy Framework assesses institutional readiness across four dimensions.

Assess

Map existing regulatory capacity and institutional gaps.

Compare

Benchmark against comparable developing economies.

Design

Draft governance frameworks fit for local context.

Advocate

Represent Global South interests in multilateral forums.

View Full Framework

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

View Books →

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.

View Project →

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

Explore Atlas AII → View All Projects → Education Program →

35+Nations

200+Policies

12Frameworks

9Reports

Insights

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

Shaping AI governance for the Global South

Research partnerships, policy consultation, and speaking engagements — for Bangladesh, South Asia, and developing economies worldwide.

Get in Touch