Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

The Journal of African Political Economy and Development is explicitly committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion at every level of its operations — in the research it publishes, the authors and reviewers it engages, the editorial team it constitutes, and the language and accessibility policies it applies.

JAPED is committed to gender equity in all aspects of the editorial process. The journal does not discriminate against authors, reviewers, or editorial board members on the basis of gender identity or expression. The editorial team actively monitors gender representation in reviewer pools, editorial board composition, and published authorship and takes deliberate action to address imbalances.

JAPED encourages the submission of research that critically examines gender dynamics in African political economy, governance, and development. Authors are encouraged to disaggregate data by gender where relevant and to use inclusive, gender-neutral language consistent with the guidelines of the UN and relevant professional associations. The journal adopts the principle that gender should be treated as an analytical category in research on human subjects wherever it is relevant.

JAPED is explicitly committed to African epistemic sovereignty — the principle that the continent's scholars, knowledge systems, and research traditions should be centred in the production of knowledge about Africa, rather than occupying the position of object of study within frameworks designed elsewhere.

JAPED actively works to counter the structural asymmetries that have historically marginalised African scholarship in the global academic conversation. Specific commitments include:

■  Prioritising research by African-based scholars and research that engages substantively with African data, contexts, and analytical frameworks 

■  Encouraging authors — African and non-African — to cite African scholars and Africa-based publications where relevant literature exists 

■  Maintaining an editorial board and reviewer pool that is demographically representative of the African continent in terms of national origin, institutional affiliation, gender, and career stage 

■  Declining to publish research that reproduces colonial analytical tropes or that positions Africa as an exceptional case within frameworks designed for and validated in other contexts 

JAPED does not discriminate against any author, reviewer, or editorial board member on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, institutional affiliation, or career stage.

JAPED publishes primarily in English. The journal recognises Africa's extraordinary linguistic diversity and the importance of indigenous and regional languages to African scholarship. Specific language commitments:

■  English:  primary language of publication. Non-native English-speaking authors are encouraged but not required to seek professional language editing prior to submission. JAPED does not discriminate against manuscripts on the basis of English variety (British, American, African English variants are all accepted).

■  French:  authors submitting research whose primary context is Francophone Africa are encouraged to provide an abstract in French in addition to English. Full manuscripts in French will be considered for peer review on a case-by-case basis.

■  Portuguese:  JAPED is working toward capacity to receive and review manuscripts in Portuguese, consistent with the importance of Lusophone African scholarship. Authors wishing to submit in Portuguese should contact the editorial office.

■  Indigenous languages:  JAPED welcomes and will develop capacity to engage research conducted in or incorporating African indigenous languages. Authors using indigenous language materials should include translations and transliterations in English.

JAPED is committed to making its published content accessible to the widest possible readership. All published articles are available immediately and permanently in open access at no cost. JAPED's website is designed to meet web accessibility standards. Authors who require accommodations at any stage of the submission or publication process are invited to contact the editorial office.