Donada Rata is a Research Fellow at the European Strategic Institute Luxembourg (ESILUX) and a doctoral researcher at the University of Luxembourg. Alongside her academic research, she has gained hands-on experience working with policymakers and civil society actors. Through her roles at Amnesty International Luxembourg and the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs in Tirana, she has contributed to policy-relevant work on democratic standards, governance, and EU integration. She has also worked closely with non-governmental organisations in Albania and across the Western Balkans on social development and youth engagement initiatives related to European integration, building practical experience at the intersection of advocacy, institutional reform, and democratic governance. She holds a Master’s degree in European Governance from the University of Luxembourg (2025).