Call for Submissions:
Submit Your Work to the Africa Policy Journal (APJ) for Publication
Special Edition (Africa in 2063)
(2022/2023 Session)
Submission Due: 1st February 2023
The Africa Policy Journal (APJ) is pleased to announce the call for papers for the 2023 edition of the Journal. APJ invites scholarly articles and cutting-edge research to be published in the Special Edition of the Journal entitled Africa in 2063. The Special Edition is meant to reflect on the 10th Anniversary of the African 2063 Agenda.
In 2013 the African Union adopted the African 2063 Agenda built around a vision delineated into 12 flagships initiatives. Ten years down the road, The Africa Policy Journal (APJ) at the Harvard Kennedy School proposes to reflect on the 2063 Agenda by reviewing its progress and contribute to strengthening policy making towards key initiatives that would strengthen the Africa 2063 Agenda.
The Editorial Board of APJ particularly welcome submissions from but not limited to the academia, development, multilateral and bilateral institutions; research centers, finance, economic, national development and planning ministries; central banks, philanthropic, non-profit and non-governmental organizations.
The Special Edition of APJ seeks compelling research and policy postulations that will contribute to the realization of Agenda 2063. All articles should have clear and implementable policy suggestions that will aid the realization of Agenda 2063. The Special Edition would like to answer some of the following questions:
Can the African continent achieve its full economic and development potential by 2063?
How can African countries develop strong institutions that will drive its development by 2063?
How can African countries address the challenges of debt, extreme poverty, quality education, provision of electricity, infrastructure, energy and climate change?
What would it take for Africa to be industrialized and achieve regional integration by 2063?
What is the role of the Africa Free Continental Trade Area in achieving Agenda 2063?
What are the major pitfalls that will hinder the realization of Agenda 2063?
What role will technology and innovation play in reviving African economy by 2063?
How can African Diaspora contribute to the realization of Africa 2063?
What is the role of women and youth to the development of Africa by 2063?
APJ encourages established and emerging policymakers, businesspeople, lawyers, journalists, artists, researchers, academics, and others to submit their work for the Special Edition of the Journal. The Journal will cover topics around but not limited to the structuring elements of the African 2063 Agenda:
- Peace and security
- Inclusive economic growth and prosperity
- Climate, sustainability and resilience
- Culture, values and ethics
- Governance, democracy, rule of law and human rights
- Africa in Global diplomacy, geopolitics and international affairs
- Partnership, food security, energy and agriculture
- Poverty alleviation and economic empowerment
- Regional integration and partnerships
- Industrialization and decent work
All articles will undergo a rigorous peer review process. Contributions should be submitted by email to: africa_journal@hks.harvard.edu and cc harvardapj@gmail.com by 1st February 2023
Format of the Submissions: Submissions should explore the relationship between policy and political, economic, and social outcomes for African countries in the framework of the African 2063 agenda. All submissions must be the author’s original work and previously unpublished.
Guidelines
- All submissions must adhere to the Chicago Manual of Style formatting guidelines.
- Academic Articles: 3000-5000 words; must include an abstract of no more than 250 words, the issue that is addressed and its relevance either practical, policy-wise and/or methodological, the data and other facts related resources, the method of analysis, a discussed analysis (including limits to the approach of the analysis and how they are addressed or alter the findings), conclusion, and references.
- Long-form Commentaries: 1,200 – 2,000 words; include the issue that is addressed, its relevance, the policy options discussed (with their advantages and disadvantages), the recommendations, and references where appropriate.
How to Submit
- Format all submissions as Microsoft Word documents
- Format all citations in a reference list at the end of your submission, formatted according to the Chicago Manual of Style, and include URLs where relevant
- Authors should also submit a second Microsoft Word document which includes a submission letter with: (1) author’s name; (2) mailing address; (3) e-mail address; (4) phone number; (5) a biography of no more than 300 words; and (6) a headshot
- Email submissions to africa_journal@hks.harvard.edu (and cc harvardapj@gmail.com with the subject line “APJ Journal Submission” by 11:59pm EST on 1st February 2023. Submissions received after this date will not be considered for publication.
The Editorial Board of the APJ will notify all authors whose submissions have been accepted ahead of publication in the Spring of 2023. Selected authors will work with a Publication Editor to complete a round of revisions before publication; compliance with these procedures is required for publication.
Review Process
The Africa Policy Journal strives to maintain the quality and integrity of our publication through a submission review process that is fair and transparent. To this end, all works will be anonymously reviewed and scored along a common rubric by multiple staff members.
Submissions will be reviewed against the following criteria:
- Relevance: addressing issues of governance, economics, politics, security, climate and resilience, and society on the African continent
- Timely: covering opportunities and challenges facing African nations and African peoples with regard to the African 2063 agenda
- Amplifying: conducting analysis that centers underrepresented and marginalized perspectives
- Rigorous: informed and analytically-sound
- Research rigorous: A theoretically and empirically valid treatment of the subject with the appropriate and accepted methods in the literature pertaining to the topic/domain
About
The Africa Policy Journal is the only student-run scholarly journal in the United States dedicated to African policy. Our mission is to promote a rigorous, informed, and influential policy dialogue that is relevant to current and future issues of governance, economics, politics and society on the African continent. We publish thought-provoking content that provides fresh insights into the most significant opportunities and challenges facing African nations.
Questions?
Contact us via e-mail at africa_journal@hks.harvard.edu
- Format all submissions as Microsoft Word documents
- Format all citations in a reference list at the end of your submission, formatted according to the Chicago Manual of Style, and include urls where relevant
- Authors should also submit a second Microsoft Word document which includes a cover letter with: (1) author’s name; (2) mailing address; (3) e-mail address; (4) phone number; (5) a biography of no more than 300 words; and (6) a headshot
- Email submissions to africa_journal@hks.harvard.edu with the subject line “APJ Journal Submission” by 11:59pm EST on December 17, 2021. Submissions received after this date will not be considered for publication.
The Editorial Board of the APJ will notify all authors by January 7, 2022. Selected authors will work with a Publication Editor to complete a round of revisions before publication; co