AI for Developing Countries Forum

What AI for Developing Countries Forum does

AI for Developing Countries Forum (AIFOD) is a Geneva-headquartered international organization, registered in Vienna, Austria, that operates as a convening body and policy platform focused on AI governance, sovereignty, and capacity-building for developing nations. Its stated mission is to transition Global South countries from being passive AI consumers to active creators and to prevent their capture as data colonies by major AI providers; the organization's positioning emphasizes independence and non-alignment relative to the governments, multilaterals, and private-sector entities it works with.

AIFOD delivers value through a portfolio of programs rather than a single product: a Model Law Program producing governance frameworks tailored to developing nations; an AI Benchmark Survey providing actionable adoption insights; an Executive Education Program for leaders; an Independent Review Board (IRB) with 12 sectoral panels conducting systematic AI-deployment research; a FAIR Committee developing standards for sustainable, sovereignty-aware AI; and a tiered membership program (Digital Member at €99/year, Frontier Explorer at €585/year, Global Advocate at €985/year). The platform is delivered through rotating annual global summits in Geneva, Vienna, Bangkok, and Nairobi — hosted at UN venues including the Palais des Nations in Geneva, the UN Conference Centre in Bangkok, and the UN Office at Nairobi (UNON) Gigiri campus — and supplemented by year-round member directories, working sessions, weekly AI review sessions, and a multilingual website available in roughly 10 languages.

The organization reports 7,200+ members across 150+ countries and 500+ leaders attending flagship events such as the Geneva Summit 2026 (12-14 August). Revenue is generated primarily through tiered subscription memberships and summit registration fees, with corporate institutional memberships (DP World, KASIKORN Business-Technology Group, Oxygy Consulting) and partnerships with multilateral bodies (WTO, ITU, UNCTAD, UNDP, ILO, UNIDO, UNODC, UNICEF, UNHCR, IOM, INTERPOL) and governments (notably Antigua and Barbuda, City of Monterrey) anchoring the demand side; government delegates from developing nations and eligible AI practitioners attend summits on a fee-waiver or complimentary basis. AIFOD states it has 1-10 employees and does not publicly disclose revenue, funding rounds, or financial statements.

Name

AI for Developing Countries Forum

Legal name

AI for Developing Countries Forum (AIFOD)

Website

https://af.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AI for Developing Countries Forum (AIFOD) is a Geneva-headquartered international convening organization registered in Vienna that builds policy frameworks, programs, and global summits to advance AI sovereignty and capacity-building for developing nations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International AI Policy & Governance Forum

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Responsible AI Policy, Controls & Workflow Management (HDAAAMAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Responsible AI, AI Governance & Compliance Services (BPAEAHAJ), AI Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) Platforms (HDAAAMAA)

Keywords

• AI governance frameworks
• Policy convening forum
• International development policy
• Membership organization
• Global AI policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: AIFOD generates revenue through tiered annual membership subscriptions. Three tiers are offered: Digital Member at €99/year, Frontier Explorer at €585/year, and Global Advocate at €985/year. Membership provides access to summits, working sessions, networking directory, and year-round engagement.
2. Summit Registration: Revenue generated from summit participation fees. Private sector and builder applicants pay registration fees while government delegates from developing nations attend free of charge.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

AIFOD operates a membership-based convening platform connecting policymakers, multilateral organizations, and AI practitioners from developing nations. It delivers value through tiered annual memberships, global summits in Geneva, Vienna, Bangkok, and Nairobi, AI governance frameworks (Model Law Program), research (AI Benchmark Survey, Independent Review Board), executive education, and policy standards work for AI sovereignty in the Global South.

Product overview

AIFOD is a Geneva-based international non-profit organization and convening forum dedicated to advancing AI sovereignty for the Global South. It operates as a multi-program initiative rather than a single product, comprising: the Model Law Program for governance frameworks, AI Benchmark Survey for research insights, Executive Education Program for skills development, Regional Summit events for policy-business integration, an Independent Review Board (IRB) conducting systematic AI deployment research across 12 sectoral panels, a FAIR Committee establishing standards for sustainable impact, Weekly AI Review content sessions, and tiered membership programs. The organization organizes global summits in Geneva, Vienna, Bangkok, and Nairobi, serving as a platform connecting governments, multilateral bodies, and private sector around AI topics for developing nations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AID Program: AID Program - one of the forum initiatives focused on international development
• AIFOD Fair
• Independent Review Board (IRB)

Products and services

• Membership Programs Tiered annual membership providing access to AIFOD global summits, working sessions, networking directory, and year-round engagement for individuals, AI practitioners, and institutional partners focused on AI in developing nations.
• Model Law Program

Quantifiable outcome

• $5 million committed by members for AI capacity building and technology transfer
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional and minor.

• World Trade Organization (WTO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026AIFOD and WTO have deepened their multilateral partnership with the Geneva Summit 2026 spotlighting trade, TRIPS, and the future of AI. WTO Deputy Director-General Johanna Hill participates as a featured speaker.
• City of MonterreyregionalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 February 2026Historic partnership agreement signed at Bangkok Summit to advance AI cooperation across Latin America and the Global South. Positions Monterrey as a hub for AI-driven sustainable development.
• Government of Antigua and BarbudacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 February 2026The Government of Antigua and Barbuda co-convenes the Geneva Summit 2026 with AIFOD. Minister of Foreign Affairs E.P. Chet Greene is a key advocate and AIFOD Senior Fellow.
• DP WorldcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 January 2026Global logistics leader joined as Institutional Member to advance AI for developing nations. DP World brings expertise in trade, logistics, and digital infrastructure.
• KASIKORN Business-Technology Group (KBTG)regionalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 January 2026Thailand's leading FinTech powerhouse joined as Institutional Member to advance AI for developing nations.
• Oxygy ConsultingminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 January 2026Global management consulting firm specializing in digital infrastructure joined as Institutional Member.
• International Telecommunication Union (ITU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerITU and AIFOD collaborate on the AI Skills Coalition. ITU's Bilel Jamoussi, Deputy Director of ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, participates in AIFOD summits.
• United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNCTAD participates in Geneva Summit 2026. Kiyoshi Adachi, Legal Officer at UNCTAD, addresses the summit on investment flows and digital economy.
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNDP officials attend AIFOD summits. Juan Kanggrawan, Digital & AI Governance Expert, represents UNDP Asia Pacific at Bangkok Summit.
• International Labour Organization (ILO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerILO participates in AIFOD summits. Daniel Samaan, Senior Economist at ILO, addresses AI's impact on future of work at Vienna Summit 2025.
• United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNIDO participates in AIFOD activities. Jason Slater, Chief of AI & Digital Officer at UNIDO, speaks at summits on AI for grassroots solutions.
• United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNODC participates in AIFOD summits. Dr. Wendy O'Brien, Technology and Innovation Advisor, speaks on AI for justice and human rights.
• UNICEFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNICEF participates in AIFOD summits. Johannes Wedenig, Senior Advisor, addresses youth digital identity for African agency.
• UNHCRcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNHCR participates in AIFOD summits. Fatia Hassouni, Senior Data Officer, addresses crisis-ready data systems for emergency response.
• International Organization for Migration (IOM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIOM participates in AIFOD summits. Mike Bugembe, Deputy CIO, returns as speaker at Geneva Summit 2026.
• INTERPOLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINTERPOL participates in AIFOD summits. Laurent Lacroix, Chief Data Officer, speaks on revolutionizing global policing with data & AI.
• United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNON hosts the AIFOD Nairobi Summit 2027 at its Gigiri campus, the UN's only headquarters in the Global South.
• African UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfrican Union serves as liaison partner for the Nairobi Summit 2027, connecting AIFOD with continental AI strategy implementation.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• International Telecommunication Union (ITU): ITU is a UN specialized agency for ICTs, already an AIFOD partner via the AI Skills Coalition. It convenes governments on AI standards and capacity building, competing for the same developing-country AI capacity-building agenda.

Regional players

• Smart Africa Alliance: Smart Africa is an African Union-affiliated initiative advancing digital transformation across the continent, with a strong AI policy and capacity-building mandate. It targets the same Global South stakeholders AIFOD serves, particularly ahead of the Nairobi Summit 2027.

Emerging players

• Future of Life Institute: Future of Life Institute focuses on AI governance, safety and existential risk policy advocacy with global reach. While centered on frontier AI risks, it competes for the same policymakers, researchers, and philanthropic dollars as AIFOD.
• AI Now Institute: AI Now Institute produces policy research on the social implications of AI and advises governments and regulators. It overlaps with AIFOD's policy research agenda and IRB panels but focuses primarily on US/EU regulatory contexts.

Direct peers

• OECD AI Policy Observatory: OECD AI Policy Observatory is a leading international hub for AI policy research, evidence, and multi-country guidance. It overlaps with AIFOD's Independent Review Board and AI Benchmark Survey in producing policy-grade AI research for member states.
• Partnership on AI: Partnership on AI is a multi-stakeholder nonprofit convening industry, academia, and civil society on responsible AI. It shares AIFOD's model of member-supported convening for AI ethics and governance but operates with a more industry-led orientation.
• Global Partnership on AI (GPAI): GPAI (now merged into the OECD AI Policy Observatory) is a multi-stakeholder international initiative advancing responsible AI governance. Like AIFOD, it convenes governments, multilaterals, and the private sector around AI policy frameworks, making it the closest direct comparable despite AIFOD's developing-country focus.

Broad incumbents

• World Economic Forum (WEF): WEF is a globally recognized convening organization running flagship summits (Davos, regional meetings) that bring together heads of state, multilaterals, and CEOs. Its AI-focused tracks and Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution network compete for the same institutional attendee pool AIFOD serves.
• UN AI Advisory Body: The UN Secretary-General's High-Level Advisory Body on AI produces global AI governance recommendations for member states. It is the most authoritative UN-led voice on AI policy and overlaps directly with AIFOD's Model Law Program and policy advocacy work.
• Chatham House: Chatham House (the Royal Institute of International Affairs) is a leading international affairs think tank with research programs on technology and geopolitics. Its convening model and policy research orientation make it comparable to AIFOD's policy forum and IRB programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@AIFOD
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aifod

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about AI for Developing Countries Forum