Policies and Procedures

GENERAL JOURNAL INFORMATION

  1. African Journal of Governance and Development [ISSN(Print): 2218-5615 - eISSN(Online): 2616-9045] is listed in the International Bibliography of the Social Sciences (IBSS) and is recognised by the South African Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).
  1. African Journal of Governance and Development is published every semester. In addition to these two annual publications, special editions may be published.
  2. African Journal of Governance and Development publishes TWO Issues annually.
  3. Volume numbers match the year of publication, and issue numbers indicate the two compulsory issues or the special edition issues for that year and volume p.a.
  4. African Journal of Governance and Development provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.
  5. African Journal of Governance and Development is an open-access journal that makes scholarly articles available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 International License.
  6. African Journal of Governance and Development allows software/ spiders to crawl the journal content automatically.
  7. African Journal of Governance and Development does not provide article-level metadata.
  8. African Journal of Governance and Development does not provide article download statistics.
  9. All African Journal of Governance and Development articles are screened for plagiarism.
  10. African Journal of Governance and Development is an open-access journal, meaning that all content is freely available to the user or their institution without charge. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles or use them for any other lawful purpose without asking the Publisher’s or the author’s prior permission. This is following the BOAI definition of Open Access.

MANUSCRIPT REVIEW PROCESS

  1. Initial Receipt: Upon receiving a manuscript, it first undergoes an initial screening by the editors to determine its suitability for the Journal.
  2. Preliminary Decision: At this stage, manuscripts might be rejected if they do not align with the Journal’s focus or do not meet basic quality benchmarks.
  3. Double-Blind Review: If deemed suitable, the manuscript proceeds to a double-blind peer review process to ensure both the reviewer’s and the author’s anonymity.
  4. Selection of Reviewers: The editors select TWO independent reviewers with expertise in the relevant field to evaluate the manuscript’s quality, rigour, and contribution.
  5. Feedback and Recommendations: Reviewers provide detailed feedback, which can include:
    • Acceptance in the current form.
    • Suggestions for revision (minor or major).
    • Recommendation for rejection.
  6. Author Revisions: Authors are required to:
  • Attend to reviewers’ suggestions comprehensively.
  • Clearly explain modifications made in response to feedback.
  • Provide a detailed rebuttal when disagreeing with any of the reviewers’ points.
  1. Resubmission: After making the necessary revisions, authors resubmit the manuscript for further consideration. The revised manuscript might be returned to the reviewers, especially if major revisions were suggested.
  2. Editorial Check: Post-review, editors evaluate the manuscript for:
  • Proper formatting in line with the Journal’s guidelines.
  • Language clarity and correctness.
  1. Language Editing Proof: Depending on the quality of the written language, editors might request proof of professional language editing.
  2. DOI Allocation: Once the manuscript meets all requirements and maintains the standards of the Journal, a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is allocated to enhance its traceability.
  3. Final Publication: The manuscript, now an article, is published in the African Journal of Governance and Development for the global readership.

By adhering to this structured review process, the Journal ensures that each published article is of high academic and ethical standard, making significant contributions to the field of governance and development.

 

PAGE FEES

  1. African Journal of Governance and Development does not have article submission charges.
  2. Accordingly, the African Journal of Governance and Development page fee charges are R 5000 per published article.
  3. Invoices are sent to lead authors (or secondary authors if they are from a different institution) once the article has been set for publication.
  4. The “African Journal of Governance and Development” adopts a waiver policy tailored for authors from developing nations. Should their articles successfully clear the peer review process, they will be published at no cost, provided that it is verified that their affiliated institution does not bear publication charges.

 

COPYRIGHT

Copyright (©) belongs to the Publisher. If an author or Publisher wishes to use or publish an article that appeared in the African Journal of Governance and Development in part or full. In that case, the editor-in-chief must request permission from Mubangizib@ukzn.ac.za.

 

SAFEGUARDING INTEGRITY: GUIDELINES FOR ETHICAL CONDUCT AND TRANSPARENT PUBLISHING

 

Maintaining transparency, ethics, and integrity is paramount in the ever-evolving realm of academic publishing. As we aim to further knowledge and foster trust among our contributors, reviewers, and readers, we have established a comprehensive set of guidelines for authors, reviewers and Editors of the African Journal of Governance and Development. Articles AJGD #01 to AJGD #05 below address pivotal aspects of our publication process. These articles are not merely prescriptive but are a testament to our commitment to upholding the highest standards in scholarly communication. Collectively, these articles underline our unwavering commitment to fostering a scholarly environment that is both trustworthy and forward-thinking.

Article AJGD #01 : Addressing Misconduct

  1. Definition of Misconduct: For this publication, misconduct encompasses any act of dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or violation of publication ethics by the authors, reviewers, or any party involved in the process of manuscript submission, review, and publication. This includes, but is not limited to, data fabrication, data falsification, plagiarism, and unauthorised duplication of content.
  2. Reporting Misconduct: Any individual who suspects or identifies potential misconduct related to a submission or published article must report the matter immediately to the editorial board or the designated ethics committee of the Journal.
  3. Investigation: Upon receiving a report of alleged misconduct, the Journal will initiate a thorough investigation in a fair, impartial, and confidential manner. All parties involved in the alleged misconduct will be allowed to respond to the allegations.
  4. Consequences of Misconduct: Should the investigation confirm the misconduct, the Journal reserves the right to take appropriate action. This may include, but is not limited to:
  • Rejecting the implicated manuscript.
  • Retracting the published article.
  • Banning the offending author(s) or reviewer(s) from future submissions for a specified period.
  • Reporting the findings to the affiliated institutions of the involved parties.
  • Notifying readers and the academic community of the misconduct.

 

  1. Preventive Measures: The Journal commits to fostering an environment of academic integrity and will routinely deploy tools and checks to identify potential issues, thereby minimising the likelihood of misconduct.
  2. Transparency and Appeals: All decisions related to misconduct will be communicated transparently with all parties involved. Those found guilty of misconduct will have the right to appeal the decision, provided they present compelling evidence in their defense.

By submitting their work to this Journal, all authors acknowledge and agree to abide by this misconduct policy and understand the implications of any violations.

 

Article AJGD #02: Management of Complaints

  1. Scope of Complaints: This clause pertains to all grievances related to the publication process, editorial decisions, reviewer feedback, alleged misconduct, or any other aspects associated with the Journal’s operations.
  2. Submission of Complaints: Individuals or entities wishing to raise a complaint must do so in writing, providing a detailed description of the nature of the grievance and if possible, suggesting a preferred resolution. Complaints should be directed to the designated complaints officer or the editorial board, as the Journal specifies.
  3. Acknowledgement of Complaints: All complaints will be acknowledged within a predefined period, typically within 10 working days of receipt, along with an estimated timeline for resolution.
  4. Investigation and Deliberation: Upon receipt of a complaint, the Journal will initiate an impartial and thorough investigation, ensuring that all relevant parties can present their views. The Journal is committed to resolving complaints fairly, transparently, and timely.
  5. Outcome and Communication: Once a decision has been reached regarding the complaint, the complainant will be informed in writing about the outcome, the reasons for the decision, and any remedial actions taken or to be taken.
  6. Confidentiality: All complaints will be handled with the utmost confidentiality, and details will only be shared with those who need to be involved in the resolution process.
  7. Appeals: If a complainant is unsatisfied with the decision or resolution provided, they have the right to appeal the decision. Appeals must be submitted within a predefined period, typically within 30 days of receiving the decision, and should clearly outline the reasons for the appeal.
  8. Commitment to Continuous Improvement: The Journal continually improves its processes and operations. Feedback and resolutions from the complaint process will be considered in future policy and procedural reviews.

By engaging with the Journal, whether as an author, reviewer, or reader, all parties acknowledge and agree to abide by this complaints management clause and trust the Journal to address grievances judiciously.

 

Article AJGD #03: Managing Conflict of Interest

  1. Definition: A conflict of interest arises when there’s a divergence between an individual’s private interests and their professional obligations to the Journal. An independent observer might reasonably question whether considerations of personal gain, financial or otherwise, determine the individual’s professional actions or decisions.
  2. Disclosure Requirement:
    • Authors: Upon manuscript submission, all authors are required to disclose any financial, personal, or professional interests that might be construed as a conflict of interest pertaining to the submitted article.
    • Reviewers: Reviewers must declare any potential conflicting interests related to the manuscript or its authors before reviewing a submission.
    • Editors: Editors should recuse themselves from handling manuscripts if they have any potential conflict of interest, such as collaborative, financial, or personal relationships with the authors.
  3. Transparency: Any declared conflicts of interest will be made available to readers alongside the manuscript, should it be published. If a conflict of interest emerges after publication, the Journal will issue a correction or retraction as deemed necessary.
  4. Undeclared Conflict of Interest:
    • The Journal will investigate the matter if a conflict of interest is discovered after publication and was not declared during the submission and review process. This may result in corrections to or retraction of the article and can potentially influence the future participation of the authors, reviewers, or editors in the publication process.
  5. Resolving Conflicts:
    • For submissions with declared conflicts, the editorial team will decide on a case-by-case basis whether the nature of the conflict affects the integrity of the scientific process. A decision might range from proceeding with the review process with a declared conflict to seeking additional independent reviews or even declining the manuscript.
  6. Training and Awareness: The Journal will periodically offer training and resources to its editors and reviewers to identify and manage potential conflicts of interest, reinforcing the importance of transparency and integrity in publication.
  7. Revisions and Updates: This clause will be revisited periodically to ensure its relevance and effectiveness in managing conflicts of interest.

All individuals involved in the manuscript submission, review, and publication process - authors, reviewers, or editors—are expected to uphold the highest ethical standards, ensuring the integrity of the Journal’s contributions to the academic community. All parties acknowledge and agree to adhere to this conflict of interest policy by participating in this process.

 

Article AJGD #04: Article Retraction and Withdrawal

  1. Grounds for Retraction: Articles may be retracted or withdrawn due to:
    • Falsification or fabrication of data.
    • Plagiarism or breach of copyright.
    • Duplicate or redundant publication (previously published in another journal).
    • Ethical violations, including research carried out without necessary permissions or informed consent.
    • Incorrect or misleading claims or conclusions that invalidate the research.
  2. Initiation of Retraction: A request for retraction can be initiated by:
    • The article’s author(s).
    • The Journal’s editors.
    • Readers or external entities presenting valid evidence for the retraction.
  3. Retraction Procedure:
    • The editorial board will evaluate the concerns upon receiving a request or evidence pointing towards misconduct.
    • If preliminary evidence suggests validity to the concerns, the author(s) will be notified and given a chance to respond.
    • If misconduct is confirmed, the article will be retracted. A retraction notice will be published online where the article was originally published. This notice will detail the reason for the retraction and provide a reference to the original article.
  4. Withdrawal by Authors: Authors can request the withdrawal of an article:
    • The article will be withdrawn without penalties if the request is made before the peer review is complete.
    • Post peer-review but pre-publication withdrawals may be subject to penalties or processing fees.
    • Once published, an article can only be retracted, not withdrawn.
  5. Records and Transparency: All retraction or withdrawal process stages will be documented and archived for transparency and future reference.
  6. Impact on Authors: Authors involved in articles that are retracted due to misconduct may face additional consequences, including scrutiny of their other published works and potential reporting to their affiliated institutions.

By submitting their work to this Journal, all authors acknowledge and agree to this article retraction and withdrawal clause. The Journal is committed to maintaining the integrity of the academic record and ensuring the trust of its readers and contributors.

 

Article AJGD #05: Open Access Licensing Terms

  1. Definition of Open Access: Open Access refers to the free, unrestricted online access to published research, allowing readers to view, download, distribute, and use the content, provided the original source is properly cited.
  2. Licensing Model: Unless otherwise stated, all articles published in this Journal under Open Access will be licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0). This license permits users to use, reproduce, disseminate or display the article, even for commercial purposes, so long as:
    • The original work is properly cited.
    • The use is non-misleading.
    • No derivative works are created without proper permission from the author.
  3. Rights of Authors: Under the Open Access model:
    • Authors retain the copyright of their work, granting the Journal the right of the first publication.
    • Authors have the right to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the Journal’s published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this Journal.
  4. Article Processing Charges (APC): To support the Open Access model, authors must pay an Article Processing Charge (APC) upon acceptance of their manuscript. Specific details will be provided separately, including the amount and potential waivers.
  5. Repository and Archiving: Authors are encouraged to deposit their published articles in institutional or public repositories to enhance their accessibility and visibility.
  6. Transparency and Integrity: The Journal will make its Open Access, peer-review, and copyright policies transparent to authors and readers. Any changes to these policies will be communicated promptly.
  7. Ethical Considerations: All articles, despite being freely accessible, must be used in a manner that respects the moral rights of the authors. Any use that could harm the reputation or rights of the authors is discouraged and might be actionable.

All authors acknowledge and agree to these Open Access licensing terms by submitting their work to this Journal. Readers and users of the content are also expected to adhere to the stipulated terms while accessing, sharing, and using the material.

 

Article AJGD #06: Manuscript Data Storage

  1. Scope of Data Storage: Our Journal is primarily committed to storing and archiving manuscripts submitted by authors. We do not operate or maintain a separate data repository for primary research data, supplementary materials, or associated metadata beyond the content of the submitted manuscripts.
  2. Submission Guidelines: Authors must submit their manuscripts complete with all essential data, figures, and tables integral to the research’s content and understanding. Supplementary datasets, which are vital for the validation and replication of the research, should be mentioned within the manuscript, and authors should provide clear guidelines on how interested parties can access them, if applicable.
  3. External Data Repositories: While we do not host a dedicated data repository, we encourage authors, where applicable, to deposit their primary research data in recognised external data repositories relevant to their field. Upon doing so, authors should include a citation or link to the dataset within their manuscript to allow for transparency and validation.
  4. Data Privacy and Sensitivity: For research involving sensitive data, confidential information, or data that cannot be shared publicly due to ethical considerations, authors should provide a detailed justification within their manuscript submission.
  5. Integrity and Authenticity: Authors are accountable for the authenticity of their data. Any significant alterations or manipulations of the primary data should be transparently communicated and justified in the manuscript.
  6. Manuscript Archive: All accepted manuscripts and their associated data as submitted by the authors, will be archived and stored securely by our Journal. These can be accessed as per the Journal’s access guidelines and policies.
  7. Preservation of Past Journals: All archived or previous editions of our Journal are stored and can be accessed via the SABINET platform. We recommend authors and readers use this platform as a reference for past publications and their associated data sets if linked.

By submitting their work to this Journal, authors acknowledge and agree to this data storage clause, ensuring a transparent and accountable research publication process.