Rifat Islam is an action-oriented development professional with over seven years of experience in media, communication, research, policy development, and project management. He focuses on driving digital transformation across Bangladesh, South Sudan, Somalia, Gambia and other Global South nations, focusing on e-governance, education, digital trade, community economic development, youth empowerment, skills training, entrepreneurship, job creation, and technology innovation.From December 2022 to August 2024, he was stationed in South Sudan, where he designed and led innovative projects such as the 'Orange Corners South Sudan Incubation and Acceleration Programme' for the Dutch government and the 'Community Economic Transformation Through Skills Enhancement, Private Sector Development, and Digital Trade Project' under UNDP South Sudan. He launched the country's first e-commerce marketplace, Dukaanye.com, and supported government institutions with e-governance solutions and policy advisories.Presently, he is part of the International Cooperation team at Aspire to Innovate (a2i), a joint initiative of the Bangladesh Government and UNDP Bangladesh. His collaborations with governments and international organizations have made significant progress toward bridging the digital divide. He has partnered with entities from the Netherlands, Turkey, China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Malaysia, and organizations like the African Development Bank, FAO, UNCDF, Meta, and the Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations to promote sustainable digital ecosystems.His commitment to accuracy and detail stems from his journalism background, with numerous publications in national and international outlets. As a former Research Assistant at the Press Institute of Bangladesh, he contributed to research on the nation's history and media landscape, with one book published and five more in development.Outside his professional endeavours, he is passionate about photography and travel. He holds a Master's and Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences from the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at the University of Dhaka.