Publication Process

Our journals are committed to maintaining the highest standards of scholarly integrity and transparency in the publication process. Our publication process is designed to ensure a fair, transparent, and efficient pathway from submission to online publication. Below is a detailed outline of our editorial workflow, ensuring that every submission is rigorously assessed and appropriately reviewed.

  1. Initial Submission

Authors submit their manuscripts via our online submission system or email at journals@afrihorizonjournals.org. Submissions must adhere to our Guide for Authors.

  1. In-House Review (Internal Review)

Upon submission, all manuscripts undergo an initial evaluation by our editorial team to ensure they align with the journal's scope and quality standards. Key aspects assessed during the internal review include:

  • Relevance to the journal’s focus.
  • Compliance with ethical guidelines.
  • Overall originality and clarity of the manuscript.
  • Adherence to formatting requirements.

Manuscripts that pass the in-house review are forwarded to external peer reviewers for detailed evaluation. Submissions that fail to meet basic requirements are declined without peer review.

  1. Acceptance and Article Processing Charges (APC)

Once a manuscript is accepted, the corresponding author will receive a formal acceptance letter along with an invoice for the Article Processing Charge (APC). Payment of the APC is required before the manuscript proceeds to the production stage. Details on APCs and payment methods are available on our APC Policy page.

  1. Double-Blind Peer Review Process

We employ a double-blind review process, ensuring that the identities of both authors and reviewers remain confidential. This process promotes unbiased and objective feedback.

Reviewer Selection
The editorial board identifies qualified experts in the manuscript’s field to serve as reviewers..

Review Criteria
Reviewers evaluate manuscripts based on the following criteria:

  • Originality and contribution to the field.
  • Methodological rigor and clarity.
  • Significance and relevance of findings.
  • Logical structure and coherence of the argument.
  • Adherence to ethical standards.

Timeline
Reviewers are given 7-14 days to provide feedback. Authors will be informed if additional time is required.

  1. Decision and Revisions

Based on reviewers’ comments, the editor makes one of the following decisions:

  • Publish As It Is: The manuscript requires no changes before online publication.
  • Revise Few Changes: The manuscript requires minor changes before online publication.
  • Revise and Resubmit: Substantial revisions are needed. Authors must address reviewers’ comments and resubmit the manuscript for further review.

For manuscripts requiring revision, authors are requested to address reviewer comments and resubmit. Revised submissions are re-evaluated to ensure that concerns have been adequately addressed.

  1. Production and Proofing

After submitting revised manuscript, the next milestone is production stage where manuscripts undergoes formatting, copyediting, and typesetting. Authors will receive galley proofs for review and approval.

  1. Publication

Upon approval of galley by the author, the article is published online and made freely accessible under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license. Authors are notified of publication, and their work is ready for indexing in relevant databases for maximum visibility.

VISUAL PRESENTATION OF OUR PUBLICATION PROCESS