Research
creates knowledge.
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 an 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 is the designer and developer of AI governance systems spanning 190+ upazilas across 3 divisions in Bangladesh, and the creator of NagorikBD, an AI-powered civic technology platform. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from National University, Bangladesh. Learn more or collaborate at nafiulahmadrafi.com and atlasai.institute.
About Nafiul Ahmad Rafi
AI Policy & Governance Researcher
Building AI governance systems across 190+ upazilas in 3 divisions
Dhaka, Bangladesh
I work on AI governance and public policy, mostly focused on what it actually takes for a country like Bangladesh to regulate AI responsibly — not just copy-pasting frameworks written for richer economies. I started Atlas AI Institute to do this work properly: building regulatory frameworks, governance infrastructure, and national AI strategy for developing economies. On the applied side, I've designed AI governance systems now running across 190+ upazilas in 3 divisions in Bangladesh, and built NagorikBD, a civic tech platform that uses AI to help people actually use public services.
AI Governance
Regulatory Policy
Digital Sovereignty
Global South
Civic Technology
190+Upazila AI
Gov. Systems
Gov. Systems
75Country AI
SWOT Analysis
SWOT Analysis
3Division AI
Architecture
Architecture
Atlas AI Institute — Founding Director
Umeå University — AI Policy Lab, Endorser
Dhaka, Bangladesh · South Asia
rafi@atlasai.institute
My Philosophy
The chain from research to lasting change
Policy
creates direction.
Technology
creates solutions.
Public impact
creates lasting change.
This is basically how I decide what to work on — from AI governance research to civic technology and digital public infrastructure for Bangladesh and the Global South. If a piece of research isn't going anywhere near policy or a real tool, I lose interest in it fast.
Professional Experience
Roles across research, government, and institution building
Founding Director
Atlas AI Institute
This is where most of my time goes. I run an independent AI governance research institute — no big backing, just me and the work — focused on responsible AI, digital public infrastructure, civic technology, and policy for the Global South.
- Started Atlas AI Institute and I'm still the one running it day to day.
- Built AI governance systems now covering 190+ upazilas across 3 divisions in Bangladesh.
- Drafted several national AI governance and policy frameworks.
- Built NagorikBD, a civic tech platform that uses AI to help people navigate public services.
- Built the tools I needed for AI governance assessment and policy analysis — they didn't exist otherwise.
- Did a comparative AI policy SWOT analysis across 75 countries, mostly to understand what actually works.
- Written policy papers and frameworks on responsible AI, transparency, and digital public infrastructure.
Technical Research Team Member (Advisor's Office)
ICT Division, Government of Bangladesh
I supported the ICT Division Adviser's office with technical research and policy analysis — good place to see how digital policy actually gets made inside government.
- Researched digital government and emerging tech.
- Helped write policy briefs and technical documentation.
- Backed up policy discussions with actual evidence, not just opinions.
AI Policy Endorser
AI Policy Lab, Umeå University
I take part in international AI governance discussions and back research initiatives coming out of the AI Policy Lab.
Digital Marketing & Strategy Consultant
Remote · Middle East
Before AI governance became my main focus, I did digital marketing and branding consulting for businesses in the Middle East, remotely.
- Social Media Strategy
- Digital Branding
- Performance Marketing
- Website Strategy
- SEO & Content Marketing
Education
Academic foundation in public policy and governance
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Political Science
National University, Bangladesh
Focused on
Core Expertise
Domains of applied research and practice
AI Governance
AI policy frameworks, governance assessment, responsible AI, regulatory capacity, AI strategy.
Public Policy
Policy analysis, governance reform, digital government, institutional capacity.
Civic Technology
Citizen services, AI assistants, digital public infrastructure, open government.
Climate Intelligence
Disaster information systems, climate resilience, environmental data integration.
Research & Strategy
Comparative policy research, policy drafting, evidence synthesis, strategic foresight.
Responsible AI
Transparency, accountability, and trustworthy AI system design and evaluation.
Technology
Leadership
What I'm Working On
Six things I'm actively researching right now
AI governance
Responsible AI regulation and institutional capacity building for governments and policy bodies.
Global South AI policy
Governance models and regulatory frameworks designed for developing economies.
Digital public infrastructure
AI-enabled public platforms, digital governance systems, and state transformation.
Civic AI
Artificial intelligence applications for citizen-centered public services and civic engagement.
Responsible AI
Transparency, accountability, and trustworthy AI system design and evaluation.
Climate AI
AI applications for disaster risk reduction and climate resilience in vulnerable regions.
The Numbers So Far
Where the research has actually reached, as of now
40+
Countries
analyzed
analyzed
75
AI Policy
SWOT Analyses
SWOT Analyses
3
Divisions
served
served
190+
Upazilas
reached
reached
8+
Publications
What's On My Plate
The six things taking up most of my time right now
01
National AI Public Infrastructure
Getting the basic digital and AI infrastructure in place so the public sector can actually use it.
02
NagorikBD Expansion
Pushing NagorikBD past its current 190+ upazilas — more coverage, more services.
03
AI Governance Observatory
Keeping track of what's actually changing in AI governance across the Global South, not just headlines.
04
Bangladesh AI Readiness Index
A straightforward benchmark for how ready our institutions actually are for AI adoption.
05
Responsible AI Assessment Framework
A working method to actually check if a deployed AI system is safe and accountable, not just claim it.
06
AI Policy Intelligence Platform
Pulling together AI policy signals in one place so decisions can be based on evidence, not guesswork.
Things I've Built
The two projects I'm most invested in outside the research itself
NagorikBD
I built this because I got tired of watching people struggle with government processes that should be simple. It's an AI assistant that walks citizens through public services and civic information in plain language, and it also carries climate and disaster info.
View ProjectFactCheckBD
Misinformation spreads fast in Bangladesh and there wasn't a good tool built specifically for this context, so I made one. It's an AI-based fact-checking platform that helps people verify claims before sharing them.
View ProjectPublications & Writing
What I've written down, so it doesn't just stay in my head
Publications
Policy briefs, national AI strategy reports, and governance frameworks — the actual output of the research work at Atlas AI Institute, on AI regulation, responsible AI, digital public infrastructure, and Global South policy.
View All PublicationsWriting
Shorter pieces and commentary on AI governance, national policy, civic technology, and climate resilience — written the way I actually think about these things, from where I'm sitting in the Global South.
Read ArticlesLet's Talk
I think AI should strengthen institutions, empower citizens, and actually improve public services — not just automate what's already broken.
If you're doing something in AI governance, digital public infrastructure, civic technology, climate resilience, or responsible AI, send me a message. I read everything myself.