Manuscript Review Process

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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.
  7. 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.
  8. Editorial Check: Post-review, editors evaluate the manuscript for:
    • Proper formatting in line with the Journal’s guidelines.
    • Language clarity and correctness.
  9. Language Editing Proof: Depending on the quality of the written language, editors might request proof of professional language editing.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.

 

Peer Review Process for Special Issues

For special issues, the same rigorous double-blind peer review process is applied with slight adjustments to accommodate the thematic nature of the issue:

  1. Guest Editors: Special issues are often managed by guest editors with expertise in the theme of the issue. They assist in initial screening and reviewer selection.
  2. Review Criteria: Manuscripts are evaluated not only for their academic quality but also for their alignment with the specific focus of the special issue.
  3. Coordination: The journal’s editorial team works closely with the guest editors to ensure consistency in the review process across all submissions.
  4. Final Approval: The editorial board retains the authority for final acceptance and publication decisions to maintain the journal’s standards.

Editorial Oversight for Special Issues

  1. Guest Editors (if applicable):
    Special issues are often managed by guest editors with expertise in the issue’s thematic focus. These guest editors work closely with the journal’s editorial board to ensure all submissions meet AJGD’s standards.
  2. Initial Screening:
    All articles submitted to a special issue are screened by either the guest editor(s) or the editorial board to:

    • Ensure alignment with the theme of the special issue.
    • Verify compliance with the journal’s scope, guidelines, and formatting requirements.
  3. Editorial Board Involvement:
    The journal’s editorial board oversees the entire process, ensuring that the quality and integrity of the review process are upheld. The final decision on all articles, including those in special issues, lies with the editorial board.

Peer Review Policy for Papers by Guest Editors

To maintain transparency, fairness, and academic integrity, the African Journal of Governance and Development (AJGD) enforces strict guidelines for papers submitted by guest editors. These guidelines ensure that the review process is impartial and that the guest editor’s involvement does not compromise the quality of the issue.

Policy for Papers by Guest Editors

  1. Independent Review Process:
    • Papers authored by guest editors must undergo the same double-blind peer review process as other submissions.
    • Guest editors are excluded from selecting reviewers or making editorial decisions regarding their own submissions to avoid conflicts of interest.
    • An impartial editor or member of the editorial board oversees the review process for these papers.
  2. Limit on Guest Editor Submissions:
    • Papers authored or co-authored by guest editors will be limited to no more than 25% of the total articles in a single issue.
    • This ensures a balanced representation of contributions from diverse researchers and prevents overrepresentation of guest editor content.

African Journal of Governance and Development

ISSN(Print): 2218-5615  eISSN(Online): 2616-9045