The African Journal of Bioethics (AJB) is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal launched in October 2022 under the Africa Bioethics Network. We publish scholarly work on ethical issues in health, science, and society with a focus on African perspectives and contexts.

No. AJB is a diamond open access journal, which means there are no article processing charges (APCs), submission fees, or access fees for authors or readers. Our commitment is to make ethical scholarship accessible to all without financial barriers.

We accept a wide range of scholarly contributions, including: Original Research Articles (3,000–7,000 words) Review Articles (4,000–8,000 words) Case Analyses (2,000–4,000 words) Policy Briefs (1,500–3,000 words) Short Communications (1,500–3,000 words) Perspective Articles (2,000–3,500 words) Methodology Papers, Practice Reports, Book Reviews, and more See our [Guidelines for Authors] for detailed descriptions of each article type.

No, AJB welcomes submissions from authors worldwide. We especially value manuscripts that engage with African bioethical contexts, perspectives, or challenges, but this can come from scholars of any nationality or location. We particularly encourage collaborations between African and non-African researchers.

We accept manuscripts in English or French. Abstracts must be provided in both languages (translation assistance is available if needed). We are exploring possibilities for accepting and publishing in additional African languages in the future.

Manuscripts should be submitted through our online submission portal at [www.africanjournalofbioethics.org/submit]. If you encounter technical difficulties, you may also email your submission to [ajb@africanjournalofbioethics.org]. Please ensure you include all required forms with your submission.

Required forms include: Author Submission Form Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form Author Contribution Statement (using CRediT taxonomy) Additionally, your manuscript should include ethics approval statements and data availability statements where applicable. All forms can be downloaded from our [Resources page].

The CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy) is a standardized approach to documenting each author's specific contributions to a paper. It uses 14 roles (e.g., Conceptualization, Data Curation, Writing) to transparently attribute credit. AJB requires this to ensure fair recognition of all contributors and to promote transparency in authorship. See our [Author Contribution Guide] for more details.

No. Submissions to AJB must not be under consideration by any other journal, conference proceedings, or similar publication. Submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously is considered unethical and violates our publication policies.

The peer review process typically takes 6-10 weeks, although this can vary depending on reviewer availability and manuscript complexity. Our target timeframes are: Initial screening: 5 business days Peer review: 4-6 weeks Editorial decision after review: 7 days For more detailed information, please see our [Publication Process] page.

AJB uses a double-blind peer review process, meaning that both authors and reviewers remain anonymous to each other throughout the review process. Each manuscript is evaluated by at least two independent reviewers with relevant expertise.

Reviewers are selected based on their expertise in the subject matter, methodological experience, and regional knowledge relevant to the manuscript. We strive to include diverse perspectives in the review process and maintain a balance between established and early-career reviewers.

When revising your manuscript, provide a point-by-point response to each reviewer comment using our Response to Reviewers Template. Clearly indicate how you have addressed each comment or explain why you disagree with a particular suggestion. Be respectful and constructive in your responses, and highlight changes in your revised manuscript to facilitate re-evaluation.

To join our reviewer database, please email [ajb@africanjournalofbioethics.org] with your CV, areas of expertise, fill in the Reviewer Information , and keywords describing your review interests. We welcome both established scholars and early-career researchers who can apply for our reviewer mentorship program.

After acceptance, your manuscript will enter the production phase: Copyediting for language, grammar, and style Formatting and layout according to journal standards Author proof sent for review (7-day turnaround) Final corrections and DOI assignment Online publication as soon as production is complete Inclusion in the next quarterly issue

We aim to publish accepted papers within 4-6 weeks of acceptance. AJB follows a continuous publication model, meaning that articles are published online as soon as production is complete, rather than waiting for a complete issue. Your article will also be included in the next quarterly compiled issue.

AJB publishes under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license, which allows others to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon your work, even commercially, as long as they credit you for the original creation. Authors retain copyright to their work while allowing maximum dissemination.

We encourage authors to promote their work through: Social media sharing (we provide template posts) Institutional repositories and personal websites Academic networks like ResearchGate and Academia.edu Relevant conferences and professional networks Media engagement for policy-relevant findings AJB also promotes selected articles through our own channels. See our [Author Promotion Toolkit] for more ideas.

If you identify errors in your published article, please email [ajb@africanjournalofbioethics.org] with the article details and a clear description of the necessary corrections. Minor corrections will be made with a note, while substantial errors may require a formal correction notice or, in rare cases, retraction.

All research involving human participants must have received prior approval from an appropriate institutional ethics committee or review board. Your manuscript should include the ethics approval reference number, issuing committee, and date of approval. Studies involving vulnerable populations require additional documentation of protective measures.

Your manuscript should explicitly state how informed consent was obtained from participants, including any adaptations for vulnerable groups or those with limited literacy. For research using previously collected data, explain how the current analysis complies with the original consent. For case studies, confirm that appropriate permission and anonymization measures are in place.

AJB encourages data sharing to promote research transparency and reproducibility. All research articles must include a Data Availability Statement explaining how other researchers can access the data supporting the findings or why data cannot be shared. When sharing data, ensure appropriate anonymization and ethical protections are maintained.

AJB follows COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines for addressing allegations of misconduct. All allegations are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly. Depending on the outcome, actions may include manuscript rejection, published corrections, retractions, or reporting to authors' institutions. For more details, see our [Publication Ethics Policy].

Research involving communities, particularly vulnerable or marginalized groups, should demonstrate appropriate engagement practices including: Consultation during research design Respect for community authority structures Transparent communication about benefits and risks Appropriate attribution of community knowledge Sharing results with communities before wider dissemination