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Author Guidelines

Thank you for considering the Interdisciplinary Journal of the African Alliance for Research, Advocacy and Innovation (IJAARAI) for the publication of your scholarly work. IJAARAI is a peer-reviewed, open access interdisciplinary journal published quarterly by the African Alliance for Research, Advocacy and Innovation.

The journal provides a platform for researchers, policymakers, practitioners, innovators, and advocates to disseminate high-quality research relevant to Africa, Asia, and the wider Global South. All submissions are initially evaluated by the editorial team to determine their suitability for the journal’s aims and scope and to assess basic scholarly quality. Manuscripts that successfully pass the preliminary screening are subjected to a rigorous double-blind peer review process.

Based on reviewers’ recommendations, manuscripts may be accepted, returned for revision, or rejected.

1. Ethical Responsibilities

Authors are responsible for ensuring that:

  • All listed authors have made substantial contributions to the manuscript and approve its submission.
  • The submitted work is original and has not been published or simultaneously submitted elsewhere.
  • Appropriate ethical approval has been obtained where required.
  • Research involving human participants or animals complies with relevant institutional, national, and international ethical guidelines.
  • Informed consent has been obtained where applicable.
  • Any conflicts of interest are clearly disclosed.
  • Permission has been obtained for copyrighted materials including figures, photographs, datasets, and tables.

The journal reserves the right to request evidence of ethical approval and supporting documentation where necessary.

2. Types of Manuscripts Accepted

IJAARAI welcomes submissions in, but not limited to, the following categories:

  • Original Research Articles
  • Systematic Reviews
  • Scoping Reviews
  • Narrative Reviews
  • Policy Analyses
  • Short Communications
  • Case Reports and Case Studies
  • Methodological Papers
  • Commentary and Perspective Articles
  • Innovation and Practice Reports
  • Editorials and Opinion Pieces

Submissions should align with the interdisciplinary focus of the journal and may address areas including:

  • Public Health and Global Health
  • Education and Learning Innovation
  • Public Policy and Governance
  • Technology and Digital Innovation
  • Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change
  • Gender and Social Justice
  • Economics and Development Studies
  • Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Community Development and Advocacy

Comparative and cross-regional studies involving Africa and Asia are strongly encouraged.

3. Manuscript Preparation

Authors should ensure that manuscripts are clearly written, scientifically sound, and properly formatted prior to submission.

General Formatting

  • Manuscripts should be written in clear academic English.
  • Use Times New Roman, 12-point font.
  • Double spacing is recommended.
  • Pages should be numbered consecutively.
  • Use clear headings and subheadings throughout the manuscript.

Structure of Original Research Articles

Title

The title should be concise, informative, and reflective of the study content.

Abstract

Provide a structured abstract of 250–300 words including:

  • Background
  • Methods
  • Results
  • Conclusion

The abstract should stand independently and accurately summarize the study.

Keywords

Provide 4–6 keywords relevant to the manuscript.

Introduction

Clearly outline the background, rationale, problem statement, and objectives of the study.

Methods

Provide sufficient methodological detail to allow replication. Include:

  • Study design
  • Setting
  • Participants
  • Sampling methods
  • Data collection procedures
  • Data analysis
  • Ethical considerations

Results

Present findings clearly using appropriate tables and figures where necessary.

Discussion

Interpret findings in relation to existing literature and discuss implications for research, policy, advocacy, innovation, or practice.

Conclusion

Summarize the major findings and provide recommendations where appropriate.

Acknowledgements

Optional but encouraged where applicable.

Funding Statement

Clearly indicate sources of funding or state if no external funding was received.

Conflict of Interest Statement

Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest.

References

The journal follows APA referencing style unless otherwise stated.

4. Tables and Figures

  • Tables and figures should be clearly labeled and cited within the manuscript.
  • High-resolution images should be provided where applicable.
  • Authors are responsible for obtaining copyright permissions when necessary.

5. Peer Review Process

IJAARAI operates a double-blind peer review system. Reviewer identities remain anonymous to authors, and author identities remain anonymous to reviewers.

Authors may be requested to revise manuscripts in response to reviewer comments before a final decision is made.

The editorial board reserves the right to make the final publication decision.

6. Plagiarism and Academic Integrity

All manuscripts are screened for plagiarism and similarity prior to peer review. Manuscripts containing substantial plagiarism, duplicate publication, or unethical content will be rejected.

The journal adheres to internationally recognized standards of publication ethics and academic integrity.

7. Open Access Policy

IJAARAI is a fully open access journal. All published articles are freely accessible online without subscription or access barriers.

The journal supports the broad dissemination of knowledge to researchers, practitioners, institutions, and communities worldwide.

Accepted articles may be assigned digital identifiers to support citation tracking and long-term accessibility.

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

The Interdisciplinary Journal of the African Alliance for Research, Advocacy and Innovation (IJAARAI) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of scholarly publishing and ethical research conduct.

Responsibilities of Authors

Authors must ensure that:

  • Submitted manuscripts are original and unpublished.
  • All contributing authors approve the final version.
  • Data are accurate and honestly presented.
  • Appropriate acknowledgment is given to the work of others.
  • Conflicts of interest are disclosed.
  • Ethical approval and informed consent requirements are met where applicable.

Plagiarism in any form is unacceptable and may result in rejection or retraction.

Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for:

  • Making fair and unbiased publication decisions.
  • Ensuring confidentiality throughout the review process.
  • Managing manuscripts based on academic merit and relevance.
  • Addressing ethical concerns and publication misconduct appropriately.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers are expected to:

  • Provide objective, constructive, and timely reviews.
  • Maintain confidentiality of manuscripts.
  • Declare any conflicts of interest.
  • Identify important relevant literature not cited by authors.

Handling of Misconduct

Allegations of plagiarism, duplicate publication, data fabrication, unethical research conduct, or other forms of academic misconduct will be investigated thoroughly.

Where misconduct is confirmed, the journal may:

  • Reject the manuscript
  • Retract published articles
  • Publish corrections or notices
  • Notify relevant institutions where appropriate

Article Processing Charge Policy

The African Alliance for Research, Advocacy and Innovation is a non-profit organization committed to promoting accessible and inclusive scholarly publishing.

IJAARAI is an open access journal that ensures free and unrestricted access to published content. To support editorial processing, peer review administration, website maintenance, digital archiving, and publishing operations, the journal may charge a modest Article Processing Charge (APC) after acceptance.

  • There is no submission fee.
  • APCs apply only to manuscripts accepted after peer review.
  • Waivers or partial fee reductions may be considered for authors facing financial constraints, particularly researchers from low-resource settings or those addressing priority development issues.

All applicable publication charges will be communicated transparently through the journal platform.

 

Submission Preparation Checklist

Before submitting, please ensure that:

  • This submission meets the requirements outlined in the Author Guidelines.

    • The manuscript aligns with the aims and scope of the journal.

    • The study design and research argument are clearly structured and articulated.

    • The title is concise and informative.

    • The abstract clearly summarizes the study and stands independently.

    • All authors have approved the final version.

    • Ethical approval has been obtained where required.

    • All required declarations have been included.

    • References are complete and correctly formatted.

    Once you are satisfied that your manuscript meets these standards, you may proceed with submission through the journal’s online system.

Articles

Section default policy

Original Research Articles

This section publishes full length reports of original research in pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacy practice, pharmaceutical public health, and related interdisciplinary fields. Manuscripts must present clearly defined objectives, appropriate methodology, rigorous analysis, and meaningful implications for research, practice, or policy.

Review Articles

This section publishes systematic reviews, scoping reviews, and comprehensive narrative reviews that synthesize existing literature and provide critical insight into current knowledge, gaps, and future directions in pharmaceutical sciences and practice.

Systematic and scoping reviews should follow recognized reporting guidelines where applicable.

Policy and Practice Papers

This section publishes scholarly analyses of pharmaceutical policy, regulatory systems, health system strengthening, governance, access to medicines, and professional practice innovations. Articles should provide evidence based recommendations with clear implications for policy or practice.

Conceptual and Theoretical Papers

This section publishes conceptual, theoretical, and framework based papers that advance knowledge in pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacy practice, pharmaceutical policy, and pharmaceutical public health. These papers may propose new models, theoretical perspectives, analytical frameworks, or critical interpretations that contribute to scientific understanding, professional practice, or policy development.

Conceptual and theoretical papers should be logically structured, supported by relevant literature, and clearly explain their significance and implications for research, practice, or policy. Empirical data are not required, but arguments must be rigorous and evidence informed.

Case Reports and Case Studies

This section publishes well documented case reports or case studies describing unique clinical, pharmaceutical, or practice related scenarios that contribute to professional learning and innovation.

Patient confidentiality and informed consent must be confirmed where applicable.

Editorial

Editorials are invited articles written by the Editor in Chief, members of the editorial board, or invited experts. They provide commentary on current issues, journal direction, or significant developments in pharmaceutical sciences.

Copyright Notice

Authors who publish in IJAARAI retain copyright of their work. Upon acceptance, authors grant the journal the right to publish and disseminate the article.

All articles are published under an open access license that permits unrestricted reading, downloading, distribution, and citation, provided proper attribution is given to the original authors and the journal.

Each article is assigned a Crossref DOI to ensure permanent digital identification and reliable citation.

Authors are responsible for obtaining permission to reproduce any copyrighted material included in their manuscripts. The journal is not liable for unauthorized use of copyrighted content submitted by authors.

Privacy Statement

The names and email addresses entered in this journal site will be used exclusively for the stated purposes of this journal and will not be made available for any other purpose or to any other party.