In February 2026, the Asia AI4D Observatory: A policy and innovation network on responsible artificial intelligence was launched with the support of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. 

Led by LIRNEasia, East-West Management Institute, JustJobs Network, and EngageMedia, this three-year initiative will support Asia’s capacity to design, govern, and scale responsible (i.e., safe, rights-based, sustainable, inclusive, and context-appropriate) AI by generating actionable evidence, fostering regional learning and networks, and informing the development of inclusive AI policies and regulations across South and Southeast Asia. 

First, the initiative will generate policy-relevant evidence on responsible AI innovations across the region. This will include continuous benchmarking of country progress, ecosystem mapping across six key AI enablers, such as data, compute, algorithms, skills and labour, innovation and investment climate, and policy and regulation, and the development of a regional repository of responsible AI use cases. 

Second, the initiative will translate this evidence into practical knowledge products and policy resources. This will include mapping studies, innovation briefs, newsletters, interactive regional resources, comparative analyses, policy tools, and assessment frameworks. These resources will support governments, regional bodies, innovators, and civil society actors in working towards responsible AI innovations within their countries and across the Asia-Pacific region.

Third, the initiative will strengthen institutional and community capacity for responsible AI governance. This will be done through targeted training, advisory support, regional policy dialogues, a Community (or Communities) of Practice, and multi-stakeholder convenings. These activities will support peer learning, policy coherence, and the practical implementation of responsible AI approaches across countries and sectors. 

Fourth, the initiative will integrate the perspectives and priorities of women, persons with disabilities, and Indigenous communities to help ensure that AI development and innovation in selected countries are equitable and inclusive. Environmental sustainability, particularly in relation to water, energy, and land use, will be integrated as a cross-cutting consideration across the initiative’s workstreams.

What’s next? 

Within the first year, LIRNEasia has already begun conducting preliminary research related to the key themes relevant to the project, such as mapping studies on the six key AI enablers, along with benchmarking studies looking at various AI indices to understand the “state of play” and “key gaps”. 

Year 1 will also include the establishment of a Community of Practice on responsible AI innovations, as well as the development of framework(s) for evaluating responsible AI innovations. 

Years 2 and 3 will focus on policy engagement across countries, capacity development, scope-a-thons for developers of innovative AI solutions, and one or more large-scale convenings for stakeholders working to advance responsible AI innovation across Asia. Benchmarking studies, ecosystem mapping, and the responsible AI use-case repository will be maintained and updated throughout the three-year initiative. 

This project is part of the Artificial Intelligence for Development (AI4D) programme, a five-year partnership between IDRC and the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. AI4D seeks to support policy development, innovations, and expanded leadership to spur the safe and responsible AI development and use in Africa and Asia.