1. Reviewers Guidelines

Reviewers play a vital role in ensuring the quality and integrity of published research in the journal. As a reviewer, you are expected to provide an objective, detailed, and constructive evaluation of submitted manuscripts. Below are the key expectations for your role:

• Confidentiality: All manuscripts must be treated as confidential. Do not share or discuss the manuscript with others without permission from the editor.
• Expertise: Only accept manuscripts that are within your area of expertise. If you are unsure about your ability to review a manuscript, please inform the editor immediately.
• Timeliness: Complete your review within the timeline set by the editor. If you are unable to meet the deadline, inform the editor as soon as possible.
• Objectivity: Provide an impartial assessment of the manuscript. Avoid any personal bias and base your evaluation on the scientific merit of the research.
• Constructive Feedback: Provide clear, detailed, and constructive feedback to the author. Point out strengths and areas for improvement, but always be respectful and professional.
• Ethical Responsibility: Report any suspected ethical violations, including issues with plagiarism, data fabrication, or conflicts of interest, to the editor.

2. Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosures (Specific to Reviewers)

In order to maintain the integrity of the peer review process, reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest (COI) or financial interests that could be perceived as influencing their assessment of the manuscript.

• Personal Conflicts of Interest: If you have a personal relationship with any of the authors or have a bias related to the research topic, you must inform the editor. This could include, but is not limited to, friendships, professional connections, or long-standing disagreements with the authors.
• Financial Conflicts of Interest: Reviewers must disclose any financial interests related to the manuscript being reviewed. For example, if you have received funding or have financial ties to any organization that could be influenced by the outcome of the paper, it should be disclosed to the editor.
• Non-Disclosure of Conflict of Interest: If you feel you have a conflict of interest that could affect your impartiality as a reviewer, it is best to recuse yourself from reviewing the manuscript. In such cases, please notify the editor as soon as possible.
• Transparency in Financial Disclosures: Reviewers must provide full details of any financial relationships that could be considered a potential conflict. These disclosures include grants, employment, patents, or stock ownership in companies that could benefit from the outcome of the manuscript.

Note: Failure to disclose conflicts of interest may result in removal from the reviewer pool or other sanctions as deemed necessary by the journal's editorial board.

3. Ethical Review and Reporting

In addition to disclosing conflicts of interest, reviewers should be aware of ethical considerations when evaluating a manuscript. These include:

• Plagiarism: Ensure that the manuscript is free of plagiarism. Reviewers are encouraged to use plagiarism detection tools to check for any content that may have been copied without appropriate citation.
• Data Integrity: Check the data for accuracy and ensure that proper ethical protocols were followed, especially if the research involves human or animal subjects.
• Research Ethics: Reviewers should confirm that the research complies with relevant ethical guidelines, including proper ethical approval for studies involving human or animal participants.
• Data Fabrication or Falsification: If you notice any signs of data manipulation or falsification, you must report this to the editor immediately. The journal has a zero-tolerance policy towards data fabrication.

4. Conclusion

Your role as a reviewer is crucial in maintaining the quality and integrity of the research published in the African Journal of Demography and Population Studies. We appreciate your time and effort in providing valuable feedback to help authors improve their work.

If you have any questions or need clarification on any part of these guidelines, please feel free to contact the editorial team at [editorial email address].