Editorial Board Members Obligations

Editorial board members play a vital role in shaping the direction and quality of our journals at Afri Publishing. The following guidelines outline the responsibilities and obligations of editorial board members:

1. Expertise and Contribution:

• Editorial board members should have expertise in the field relevant to the journal they serve. They are expected to contribute to the overall academic quality and reputation of the journal.
• They may be called upon to provide input on journal policies, scope, and special issues.

2. Editorial Independence:

• Editorial board members should exercise their role with complete impartiality and without any external influence. They should make decisions based solely on the academic merit of the manuscript.
• They should avoid conflicts of interest that could compromise their objectivity and judgment.

3. Confidentiality:

• Board members are entrusted with confidential information regarding submitted manuscripts and editorial decisions. They must maintain the confidentiality of the peer review process and not disclose any details about the manuscript or its review to unauthorized parties.

4. Review Process:

• Editorial board members may be called upon to provide reviews for manuscripts. These reviews should be conducted objectively, without bias towards the authors or their affiliations.
• Reviews should be constructive, providing specific comments and suggestions that help authors improve the quality of their manuscript.

5. Conflict of Interest:

• Editorial board members should declare any potential conflicts of interest that may arise from personal, financial, or professional relationships with the authors, institutions, or funding sources related to a submitted manuscript.
• In cases where there is a conflict of interest, board members should recuse themselves from handling the manuscript.

6. Promotion of Journal and Research Integrity:

• Board members should actively promote the journal within their academic and professional networks. They should also advocate for research integrity and adherence to ethical guidelines.
• They may participate in discussions about research ethics, publication ethics, and best practices in academic publishing.

7. Advisory Role:

• Editorial board members may be consulted on editorial policies, manuscript handling, and journal development. Their input is valued in shaping the journal's direction.
• They may also be involved in identifying potential guest editors or reviewers for special issues.

8. Ethical Considerations:

• Board members should ensure that all published research complies with ethical standards and guidelines. This includes considerations for human and animal subjects, as well as other ethical considerations relevant to the field of study.
• If any ethical concerns are identified, board members should bring them to the attention of the editor.

9. Continuous Professional Development:

• Board members should engage in continuous learning and professional development to stay updated with evolving standards and practices in academic publishing.

By adhering to these editorial board members' guidelines and obligations, we collectively contribute to the high standards of quality and integrity that Afri Publishing is committed to upholding in scientific publishing. We appreciate your dedication to the success of our journals.