Robert Macdonald is a research fellow working on the 'Local Perceptions and Media Representations of Election Observation in Africa' project. The project investigates the perceptions of observation missions and the ways in which information about these missions circulates in countries hosting observation missions. His broader research interests are in African politics and elections, with a particular focus on Tanzania. He has also been working on the UKRI GCRF/Newton Fund 'African Elections during the COVID-19 Pandemic' project, which looks at ways of mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on African elections.