Author Policies

  1. Withdrawal Policy
  2. Licensing Policy
  3. Complaints Policy
  4. Open Access Policy
  5. Check List
  6. English Language Editing
  7. Submission of Manuscript
  8. Data Sharing Policy
  9. Manuscript Preparation
  10. Errata, Retractions, and Corrigenda Policy
  11. Author’s Agreement Form
  12. Participant/Patient Privacy and Informed Consent
  13. Sample Paper
  14. Article Processing Charge
  15. Human and Animal Rights Policy
  16. Rights and Grants to the Author
  17. Digital Preservation
  18. Plagiarism Policy
  19. APC Waiver Policy
  20. Copyright Policy

The African Journal of Botany adheres to a comprehensive set of policies designed to ensure ethical, transparent, and high-quality academic publishing. Below is a detailed overview of these policies:

  1. Withdrawal Policy: Authors may withdraw their manuscript from consideration at any point before it is accepted for publication. However, withdrawal requests must be formally communicated to the editorial office, and the manuscript may only be withdrawn if it has not yet been accepted or published. The journal requires that any prior decisions or actions, such as peer review, be acknowledged when a manuscript is withdrawn.

  2. Licensing Policy: The journal typically uses Creative Commons (CC) licenses for its open-access content. Authors can choose the appropriate license that allows them to retain their copyright while permitting free access and use of their work, including commercial use, depending on the chosen license. This promotes the sharing of knowledge and allows for the widest possible dissemination of research.

  3. Complaints Policy: The journal offers a clear mechanism for handling complaints or disputes regarding the publication process. Authors, reviewers, or readers who feel that academic standards or ethical guidelines have been compromised can raise their concerns directly with the editorial team. A formal process ensures that complaints are addressed fairly and promptly, with transparency maintained throughout the process.

  4. Open Access Policy: As part of its commitment to accessibility and the dissemination of scientific knowledge, the African Journal of Botany operates under an open-access model. All published articles are freely available to anyone with internet access, ensuring that research reaches a global audience. This is especially important for researchers in developing countries who may have limited access to subscription-based journals.

  5. Check List: To ensure manuscripts meet the journal’s submission standards, authors are provided with a submission checklist. This checklist includes requirements for formatting, references, structure, and ethical compliance, helping to streamline the review and publication process.

  6. English Language Editing: Authors whose first language is not English can utilize language editing services to improve the clarity and accuracy of their manuscripts. The journal requires that all manuscripts be submitted in fluent and clear English to ensure that the research is accessible to an international audience.

  7. Submission of Manuscript: Manuscripts are submitted electronically through the journal's online submission system. Authors are required to follow the journal's specific manuscript preparation guidelines, which detail the required sections, referencing style, and overall structure. Submission guidelines ensure consistency and professionalism across all published articles.

  8. Data Sharing Policy: The African Journal of Botany encourages authors to share their data to promote transparency and reproducibility of research findings. Authors are encouraged to provide datasets as supplementary material or to deposit them in recognized public repositories when possible.

  9. Manuscript Preparation: The journal provides detailed guidelines for manuscript preparation, covering aspects like formatting, style, and ethical considerations. Adherence to these guidelines is crucial for the manuscript to be considered for publication.

  10. Errata, Retractions, and Corrigenda Policy: In case of errors after publication, the journal has a clear policy for issuing errata, retractions, or corrigenda. Authors and editors must follow formal procedures for correcting the scientific record, ensuring that all published content is accurate and credible.

  11. Author’s Agreement Form: Authors must sign an agreement that affirms their manuscript’s originality, and confirms that it is not under consideration elsewhere. This agreement also grants the journal the right to publish the article and distribute it under the chosen licensing terms.

  12. Participant/Patient Privacy and Informed Consent: The journal adheres to ethical guidelines for studies involving human or animal participants. Authors must ensure that they have obtained proper informed consent for participation, and that the privacy and rights of participants are protected.

  13. Sample Paper: The journal provides authors with a sample paper template to guide them in formatting and structuring their manuscripts according to the journal’s requirements. This ensures consistency in presentation across all articles.

  14. Article Processing Charge (APC): Upon acceptance for publication, authors are required to pay an Article Processing Charge (APC) to cover the costs of publication, peer review, and hosting. The charge ensures the sustainability of the journal’s open-access model.

  15. Human and Animal Rights Policy: The journal upholds strict ethical standards regarding research involving humans or animals. Authors must comply with ethical guidelines related to the treatment of human and animal subjects, and must provide evidence of ethical approval from their institution or review board.

  16. Rights and Grants to the Author: Authors retain copyright to their work, but they grant the journal a license to publish the article. The journal ensures that authors retain ownership of their intellectual property while allowing for wide dissemination of their work.

  17. Digital Preservation: The journal participates in digital archiving initiatives to ensure long-term preservation of its published content. This is vital for maintaining the accessibility of research over time.

  18. Plagiarism Policy: The African Journal of Botany takes plagiarism very seriously and uses plagiarism detection software to screen submitted manuscripts. Authors found to have plagiarized will face rejection of their manuscripts and may be banned from submitting future work.

  19. APC Waiver Policy: The journal offers waivers for the Article Processing Charge (APC) for authors from low-income countries or those facing financial difficulties. This policy ensures that financial constraints do not hinder the publication of valuable research.