Rafaela is a researcher and a consultant on drug policies. Starting in 2003, she worked as a front-level worker assisting people who use drugs in Brazil, soon after dedicating herself to research drug policy implementation. Her transdisciplinary work connects the fields of psychology, public policy, and history. Her last academic project involved studying the history of Dutch drug policy in a European context. Currently, Rafaela develops a civil society-led Monitoring Tool for Harm Reduction in Europe. She also develops research around the meaningful involvement of people who use drugs in harm reduction services in South Africa.