Rudina Hajdari

Rudina Hajdari leads out IGA’s International Democracy Fellowship, bringing extensive international leadership experience to champion a new generation of democratic leaders. Drawing on her backgrounds in both Albanian national politics and US-based fellowship programs, Hajdari works to equip democratic leaders  from different countries with the tools, networks, and strategic vision necessary to advance democracy in different national contexts.

Hajdari was a 2022 Millenium Fellow and participant in the Atlantic Council’s 2024 Executive Leadership Intensive. That experience focused on cross-cultural collaboration, strategic governance, and building resilient democratic institutions, and it directly informs her approach to empowering democratic leaders internationally. With the International Democracy Fellowship, she creates  structured opportunities for collaborative leadership development among rising political leaders globally.

Prior to IGA, Hajdari served as a member of the Albanian parliament, where she chaired the European Integration Committee and was instrumental in advancing Albania’s EU accession efforts in 2020. Known for her moderate stance, she worked across party lines to promote democratic reforms. She also worked for the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, advising Congressman Eliot Engel on Balkan affairs and foreign policy.

Hajdari is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a 2025 Vital Voices global fellow, recognized for her efforts to empower women leaders and promote democratic resilience. She holds degrees from Fordham University, King’s College London, and Columbia University.

The daughter of a prominent Albanian pro-democracy figure and victim of political violence, Hajdari witnessed first-hand the sacrifices required to confront advance democratic practices in challenging contexts. Based in New York City, she enjoys skiing, discovering new hiking trails, and exploring the city’s vibrant art and music scenes.

The International Democracy Fellowship develops and supports an international network of elected leaders championing democracy in innovative ways. Departing from democracy promotion efforts which have historically privileged Western and US perspectives, the fellowship will foster bold, locally grounded strategies for advancing democratic principles and practices, and reassess how democratic governance retains its effectiveness and popular legitimacy in diverse political contexts. To learn about how you or your organization can make a tax-exempt gift of support for this initiative, please email: development@instituteforglobalaffairs.org.