Peer Review Process for Special Issues

Special issues of African Gender Studies Quarterly follow the same rigorous double-blind peer review procedures as regular submissions, maintaining author and reviewer anonymity to ensure fairness, impartiality, and academic integrity. Minor procedural adjustments are applied to accommodate the thematic and editorial requirements specific to special issues.

1. Review Process for Special Issues

• Guest Editors: Special issues may be overseen by Guest Editors who are recognized experts in the field. They assist with initial screening, recommend suitable reviewers, and ensure submissions align with the special issue’s theme.
• Review Criteria: Manuscripts are evaluated for academic quality, originality, methodological soundness, and relevance to the specific focus of the special issue.
• Editorial Collaboration: Guest Editors work closely with the Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board to ensure all manuscripts are reviewed consistently, ethically, and in line with journal policies.
• Final Decision: The Editorial Board retains ultimate authority over acceptance or rejection to maintain the journal’s quality and ethical standards.

2. Editorial Oversight for Special Issues

• Role of Guest Editors: Guest Editors coordinate with the Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board to manage submissions, ensuring all manuscripts meet African Gender Studies Quarterly’s formatting, ethical, and scholarly standards.
• Initial Review: Each manuscript undergoes an initial editorial assessment to confirm thematic relevance, quality, and adherence to submission guidelines before entering peer review.
• Editorial Supervision: The Editorial Board monitors the review and decision-making process to ensure fairness, transparency, and compliance with editorial and ethical policies, retaining ultimate authority over final decisions.

3. Peer Review of Guest Editors’ Submissions
   To maintain objectivity and integrity:

• Independent Review Process: Manuscripts authored by Guest Editors undergo the standard double-blind review. Guest Editors do not select reviewers or participate in editorial decisions regarding their own work. A neutral editor or designated board member oversees the process.
• Submission Limits: Guest Editors may contribute no more than 25% of the total articles in a special issue to ensure diversity of authorship.

4. Appointment and Criteria for Guest Editors
   Guest Editors are selected through a rigorous vetting process to uphold academic excellence and ethical publication practices.

• Qualification Review: Selection considers academic credentials, disciplinary expertise, editorial experience, and demonstrated contributions to the field through publications, presentations, or professional leadership.
• Verification Process: The Editorial Board verifies degrees, affiliations, editorial experience, and scholarly contributions before appointment.

5. Editorial Board Membership Requirements
   All Editorial Board members, including Guest Editors, must meet the following standards:

• Academic and Professional Excellence: Possess a doctoral degree or equivalent, with demonstrated expertise via publications, academic leadership, or applied research.
• Editorial and Review Experience: Prior involvement in academic publishing, peer review, or editorial management.
• Commitment to Ethical Standards: Adherence to African Gender Studies Quarterly’s Publication Ethics, Transparency Policy, Peer Review Policy, and COPE Core Practices.
• Nomination and Approval: All appointments must be nominated and approved by the Editorial Board following verification of qualifications and ethical compliance.

6. Publication and Withdrawal Policies

• Digital-First Publication: African Gender Studies Quarterly is an open-access, online journal, with print editions produced only when required for archival or institutional purposes.
• Article Withdrawal: Authors may request withdrawal of manuscripts at any stage prior to publication without penalty. Prompt communication is encouraged to maintain efficient editorial workflow and minimize delays