Author Information & Submission Guidelines

Applicable to all journals hosted on the Afropolitan Journals platform

1. About the Publisher

Afropolitan Journals is the online publishing platform of Indaba Publishing & Press Group, a Pan-African open-access academic publisher committed to advancing knowledge, research visibility, and scholarly excellence across Africa and beyond.

1.1 About the Journal

African Journal of Environmental Sciences and Renewable Energy (AJESRE) is a peer-reviewed open-access journal. The journal aims to publish original research output in the areas of Environmental Sciences, Environmental Design and Management, Renewable Energy, Geography, Ecology, Botany, Conservation Studies, Water Resources, and Urban Studies. 

Research articles on areas of environment, pollution control, transport and fate of pollutants in the environment, heavy metals and organic compounds in the environment, atmospheric pollutants and trace gases, solid and hazardous waste management, soil biodegradation and bioremediation of contaminated sites; environmental impact assessment, industrial ecology, ecological and human risk assessment; improved energy management, and other allied disciplines are welcome.  The journal is published online quarterly (March, June, September, and December).

All journals are published under an open-access model, ensuring research is freely and immediately available worldwide. We adhere to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines and are working towards indexing in DOAJ, Scopus, and Web of Science.

2. Before You Submit

Before preparing your manuscript, please take the following steps:

1. Select the right journal. Review the Aims & Scope page of each journal to ensure your research aligns with its coverage and readership. Submitting to an out-of-scope journal delays the process for everyone.
2. Check for originality. Your manuscript must not have been previously published or be under consideration elsewhere.
3. Secure co-author and institutional approvals. The submitting (corresponding) author is responsible for ensuring all co-authors have approved the manuscript and all necessary institutional approvals have been obtained.
4. Prepare supporting documents. Depending on your study, you may need an ethics approval certificate, informed consent documentation, data availability statement, or completed reporting guideline checklists. Have these ready before starting your submission.

3. Article Types

Our journals consider the following manuscript types. Check each journal's section policies for variations.

• Research Article (5,000–10,000 words) — Presents original research results, including systematic reviews. Describes methodology, analysis, and findings.
• Review Article (6,000–12,000 words) — Comprehensive, critical overview of published literature. Identifies trends, gaps, and future directions.
• Short Communication (2,000–4,000 words) — Brief report of significant preliminary or novel findings warranting rapid communication.
• Case Study (3,000–7,000 words) — Detailed examination of a specific instance, event, organisation, or phenomenon with broader applicability.
• Book Review (1,500–3,000 words) — Critical assessment of a recently published scholarly book relevant to the journal's scope.

Word limits include abstract, body text, and references. Tables, figures, and appendices are excluded.

4. Manuscript Preparation

4.1 General Formatting

• File format: Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx) or Rich Text Format (.rtf). No PDFs for initial submission.
• Font: Times New Roman, 12-point throughout.
• Spacing: Single-spaced, with a single blank line between sections.
• Margins: 2.54 cm (1 inch) on all sides.
• Line numbers: Strongly recommended for research and review articles.
• Page numbers: Bottom centre of each page.
• Language: English (British or American spelling accepted, but must be consistent throughout).
• Emphasis: Use italics rather than underlining (except for URL addresses).

4.2 Manuscript Structure

We recommend that all research articles follow this structure. Review articles and other types may adapt as appropriate.

• Title — Concise, informative, descriptive. Avoid abbreviations and formulae. Maximum 20 words recommended.
• Author Information — Full names, institutional affiliations, city and country, corresponding author email. ORCID iDs are strongly encouraged for all authors.
• Abstract — 150–300 words. For empirical studies: Background/Purpose, Methods, Results, and Conclusion.
• Keywords — 4–6 keywords, separated by commas, listed alphabetically. Do not repeat words from the title.
• Introduction — Background, research problem, gap in literature, study objectives, and broader significance.
• Literature Review — Critical synthesis of current knowledge (preferably including sources from the last 10 years), gap identification, and theoretical/conceptual framework.
• Methodology — Study design, population and sampling, data collection, analytical framework, and ethical considerations. Sufficient detail for replicability.
• Results / Findings — Clear, logical presentation. Tables and figures numbered, titled, and referenced in text.
• Discussion — Interpretation in context of existing literature, implications, and acknowledged limitations.
• Conclusion — Key contributions, specific actionable recommendations, and directions for future research.
• References — APA Style (7th Edition). All in-text citations must appear in the reference list and vice versa. See Section 5.

4.3 Tables and Figures

• All tables and figures must be placed within the text at the appropriate point (not at the end).
• Tables: Numbered consecutively (Table 1, Table 2, etc.) with a descriptive title above the table.
• Figures: Numbered consecutively (Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.) with a descriptive caption below the figure.
• Images should be at least 300 dpi. Ensure figures are legible in greyscale where possible.
• If using previously published material, obtain written permission and acknowledge the source.

4.4 Units, Dates, and Abbreviations

• Units: Use the International System of Units (SI).
• Dates: Write out in full to avoid ambiguity — e.g. "1 September 2025" rather than "01/09/2025".
• Abbreviations: Define at first use. Do not use in title or abstract unless widely recognised (e.g. HIV, UNESCO, GDP).

5. Referencing Style

All Afropolitan Journals use the APA Style (7th Edition) referencing format — an author-date system where in-text citations consist of the author's surname and year of publication.

In-Text Citations

• One author: (Adeyemi, 2023) or Adeyemi (2023) argues that…
• Two authors: (Okafor & Mensah, 2024)
• Three or more authors: (Nkrumah et al., 2022)
• Direct quotation: (Adeyemi, 2023, p. 45)
• Multiple works: (Adeyemi, 2023; Mensah, 2021; Okafor, 2024) — separated by semicolons, listed alphabetically.

Reference List

• Listed alphabetically by the first author's surname.
• Use a hanging indent (first line flush left, subsequent lines indented 1.27 cm).
• Include DOIs as clickable hyperlinks where available.
• All cited sources must appear in the reference list and vice versa. Uncited references will be removed.
• We encourage the inclusion of African-authored scholarship where relevant.

Template Available: An optional research article manuscript template is available for download on each journal's submission page. While not mandatory, the template will help you align your manuscript with our formatting expectations.

6. Ethical Requirements

All research must comply with COPE guidelines. We reserve the right to reject any manuscript that does not uphold high ethical standards, even if ethical approval was obtained or not required.

6.1 Ethics Approval

• Research involving human participants, personal data, biological samples, or animals requires ethics approval from a recognised IRB or ethics committee.
• State the approval number, approving body, and date in the Methodology section.
• Clearly describe informed consent procedures, including those for minors or vulnerable populations.

6.2 Plagiarism and Research Integrity

• All submissions are screened for plagiarism. Manuscripts with a similarity index above 20% (excluding references and properly attributed quotations) may be returned or rejected.
• Work must be free from data fabrication, falsification, and inappropriate manipulation.
• Reference fabrication (invented sources, falsified DOIs) is a serious integrity violation.

6.3 Conflicts of Interest

All authors must declare potential conflicts of interest in a 'Conflicts of Interest' section. If none exist, state: "The author(s) declare(s) that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this article."

6.4 Funding Declaration

Provide all funding details in a 'Funding' section, including grant numbers. If no specific funding was received, state this explicitly. Funding data is submitted to the Open Funder Registry via Crossref.

6.5 Author Contributions (CRediT)

We strongly recommend using the Contributor Roles Taxonomy (CRediT) for multi-author papers. The 14 roles include: Conceptualisation, Data Curation, Formal Analysis, Funding Acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Project Administration, Resources, Software, Supervision, Validation, Visualisation, Writing – Original Draft, and Writing – Review & Editing.

6.6 Data Availability

Include a Data Availability Statement describing how readers can access supporting data. Where data cannot be shared, clearly state the reasons.

7. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Manuscripts

Important: Afropolitan Journals recognises the growing role of AI tools in research. This policy ensures transparency and accountability while supporting responsible use.

Authors must disclose any use of generative AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot) in manuscript preparation.

Permitted Uses

• Language editing, grammar correction, and translation assistance.
• Literature search strategies (but not the generation of fabricated references).
• Code generation and statistical analysis support (where the data and methodology are the author's own).
• Summarisation of the author's own work for abstract preparation.

Prohibited Uses

• Generating substantial text without meaningful human authorship, intellectual contribution, and critical revision.
• Fabricating data, results, references, or any factual claims.
• Using AI to circumvent plagiarism detection or to paraphrase others' work without proper attribution.

Disclosure Requirements

If AI tools were used, include an 'AI Usage Declaration' section (after Acknowledgements, before References) that:

• Names the specific AI tool(s) and version(s) used.
• Describes how the tool was used (e.g. "language editing", "statistical code generation").
• Confirms all AI-assisted content was reviewed, verified, and approved by the human authors.

Note: AI tools cannot be listed as authors. Authorship requires accountability, and AI systems cannot take responsibility for published work. The corresponding author bears full responsibility for all content, including any AI-assisted portions.

8. How to Submit

8.1 Online Submission

Submit through our Open Journal Systems (OJS) platform on the relevant journal's website. Register for an account or log in to begin.

Alternatively, email submissions to: editorial@afropolitanjournals.com

Only Word (.doc, .docx, .rtf) files are accepted. Submissions must be made by one of the manuscript's authors.

8.2 What to Include

1. Main manuscript file (Word format, all tables and figures embedded).
2. Cover letter to the Editor, describing the manuscript's novelty and confirming no simultaneous submission.
3. Ethics approval documentation (where applicable).
4. Reporting guideline checklist (where applicable — see Section 9).
5. Supplementary files (datasets, additional tables, instruments), if any.

8.3 Submission Checklist

Before submitting, confirm that:

• The manuscript has not been previously published and is not under consideration elsewhere.
• All authors have approved the final version.
• The file is in Word (.doc, .docx) or RTF format.
• 12-point font, single-spaced, figures/tables placed within text.
• Italics used rather than underlining.
• All in-text citations match the reference list (APA 7th Edition).
• URLs for references provided where available.
• Abstract is 150–300 words with 4–6 keywords.
• Ethical approvals, consent, and data availability stated where required.
• AI Usage Declaration included (if applicable).
• Conflicts of Interest and Funding statements included.
• Author contributions (CRediT) described for multi-author papers.

9. Reporting Guidelines

We strongly encourage authors to use appropriate reporting guidelines. Completed checklists should be submitted as supplementary files.

• CONSORT — Randomised controlled trials
• STROBE — Observational studies (cohort, case-control, cross-sectional)
• PRISMA — Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
• COREQ — Qualitative research (interviews, focus groups)
• CARE — Case reports
• ARRIVE — Animal research
• SPIRIT — Study protocols for clinical trials

For a comprehensive list, visit the EQUATOR Network. We also encourage uploading protocols to protocols.io.

10. Peer Review Process

All manuscripts undergo rigorous double-blind peer review — the identities of authors and reviewers are concealed from each other throughout.

How It Works

1. Initial Editorial Assessment. The Editor reviews the manuscript for scope fit, basic quality, and formatting compliance. Manuscripts that do not meet minimum requirements may be returned (desk rejection).
2. Peer Review. Manuscripts passing initial assessment are assigned to at least two independent peer reviewers with relevant expertise.
3. Editorial Decision. Based on reviewers' reports, the Editor decides: Accept Unconditionally, Accept with Minor Revisions, Major Revisions Required, or Reject.
4. Revision and Resubmission. If revisions are requested, authors receive reviewers' reports with constructive feedback. Authors must address all comments point-by-point in a response letter alongside the revised manuscript.
5. Final Decision. The Editor reviews the revised manuscript (and may send for re-review) before issuing a final accept or reject decision.

Timeline

We aim for an initial editorial decision within 4–6 weeks of submission. Only an acknowledgement from the editorial office officially establishes the date of receipt.

11. After Acceptance

11.1 Copyediting and Proofs

Accepted manuscripts undergo copyediting for readability, grammar, and formatting consistency. It is a condition of submission that authors permit editing for readability. Proofs are sent to the corresponding author before publication — please return corrected proofs promptly.

11.2 Article Processing Charges (APCs)

Our Open Access model is supported by Article Processing Charges, which allow articles to be immediately available online upon publication. APC details are communicated upon acceptance. Current rates are displayed on each journal's website.

Print copies: Available upon request at an additional fee. Pricing for Nigerian and international authors is provided at the point of acceptance.

11.3 Publication and Indexing

Articles are published online and assigned a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) via Crossref (prefix: 10.62154). Published work is indexed in Google Scholar, Academia, ResearchGate, Harvard Library, Crossref, and other repositories. We are actively pursuing DOAJ, Scopus, and Web of Science indexing.

11.4 Copyright and Licensing

Articles are published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). Authors retain copyright. This licence allows others to download, share, and cite with proper attribution, but prohibits commercial reuse and derivative works without permission.

12. Key Editorial Policies

12.1 Neutrality

Afropolitan Publications remains neutral regarding territorial descriptions, maps, and author affiliations. All territorial claims are solely those of the authors.

12.2 Corrections and Retractions

Post-publication errors are addressed through corrections (erratum/corrigendum). Serious ethical violations lead to retraction in accordance with COPE guidelines.

12.3 Appeals and Complaints

Authors may appeal editorial decisions by writing to the Editor-in-Chief with evidence-based justification. Appeals are considered case-by-case. Complaints should be directed to editorial@afropolitanjournals.com.

13. Contact Information

Editorial Office
Afropolitan Journals · Indaba Publishing & Press Group

Email: editorial@afropolitanjournals.com
Website: afropolitanjournals.com

Thank you for choosing to publish with Afropolitan Journals. We look forward to receiving your manuscript.