Reviewer Policies
- Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosures (specific to reviewers)
The African Journal of Environmental Economics and Management is committed to ensuring a fair, unbiased, and transparent peer review process. As part of this commitment, all reviewers are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may arise during their assessment of submitted manuscripts. A conflict of interest refers to any situation in which a reviewer’s personal, professional, or financial relationships with the authors or the subject matter of the manuscript may compromise their ability to evaluate the work impartially.
Reviewers are asked to disclose any financial interests, such as funding from organizations that may have a vested interest in the research outcomes, or any professional relationships, such as co-authorships, collaborations, or direct associations with the authors, which could influence their evaluation. Other personal conflicts, such as academic rivalries, long-standing disagreements, or any situation that could lead to bias, should also be disclosed.
To ensure transparency, reviewers are required to declare any potential conflicts of interest before accepting an invitation to review a manuscript. If a reviewer identifies a conflict during the review process, they must immediately inform the editorial team, who may assign another reviewer in their place. This is essential to maintaining the integrity of the peer review process.
The journal takes conflicts of interest seriously and ensures that all reviewers act in good faith, providing fair and constructive feedback to authors. By requiring the disclosure of conflicts of interest, the African Journal of Environmental Economics and Management aims to maintain the objectivity of its review process, uphold the quality of its published work, and foster trust in the scholarly community.
2. Reviewers Guidelines
The African Journal of Environmental Economics and Management values the contributions of its reviewers in maintaining the quality and academic rigor of the journal. Reviewers play a crucial role in ensuring that manuscripts submitted for publication meet the highest standards of scholarship, originality, and relevance to the field of environmental economics and management. To guide reviewers in their important role, the journal provides detailed reviewer guidelines to promote consistency, fairness, and transparency in the review process.
Reviewers are expected to assess manuscripts based on several key criteria: the originality of the research, the significance of the findings, the validity of the methodology, and the clarity of writing. They should ensure that the manuscript makes a meaningful contribution to the field, aligns with the journal’s scope, and adheres to academic standards. Reviewers are also asked to evaluate the appropriateness of the literature review and whether the research addresses relevant theoretical and practical implications.
In addition to scientific and methodological evaluation, reviewers should consider the ethical aspects of the research. This includes ensuring that the study follows ethical guidelines, such as obtaining necessary approvals for research involving human participants or animals, and that appropriate ethical disclosures are made by the authors. Reviewers are also expected to identify potential plagiarism, data manipulation, or any other unethical practices in the manuscript.
Reviewers should provide constructive, respectful, and detailed feedback to authors, pointing out areas that need clarification, improvement, or revision. The feedback should focus on helping the author improve the manuscript while maintaining the integrity of the review process. Reviewers are expected to complete their reviews within the time frame set by the editorial team, ensuring timely decisions on manuscripts.
To maintain the integrity of the process, all reviews are conducted in confidence. Reviewers must not share, discuss, or disclose the contents of the manuscript to others without prior consent from the editorial team. Additionally, they should refrain from using any unpublished information from the manuscript for personal or professional gain.
Finally, the journal encourages reviewers to be mindful of their potential conflicts of interest. If a reviewer believes they have a conflict (financial, personal, or professional) that could affect their impartiality, they should recuse themselves from the review process. The African Journal of Environmental Economics and Management is committed to a fair and unbiased review process, and by following these guidelines, reviewers help ensure the quality and ethical integrity of the journal’s content.
