Submissions

Author Guidelines

4.1 Submission Categories

AJAEB accepts the following types of manuscripts:

4.2 Preparing Your Manuscript

General Formatting Requirements

• File format: Microsoft Word (.docx) only. PDF is not accepted for initial submission.
• Font: Times New Roman, 12pt throughout (including references).
• Line spacing: Double-spaced throughout, including references and tables.
• Margins: 2.54 cm (1 inch) on all sides.
• Page numbers: Bottom centre, beginning from the abstract page.
• Paper size: A4.
• Tables and figures: Embedded in the text at the appropriate location.
• Word count: Must be declared on the title page. Includes all text, tables, and references. Does not include the abstract, acknowledgements, or appendices.

Anonymization for Blind Review

Manuscripts must be prepared for double-blind review. All identifying information — including author names, affiliations, acknowledgements, and self-citations — must be removed from the main manuscript file. Authors must ensure that document metadata is also cleared of identifying information. Author details are entered separately in the OJS submission form.

4.3 Manuscript Structure

Title Page (Separate File — NOT Anonymized)

• Full title of the article (concise and informative, maximum 20 words)
• Running head (abbreviated title, maximum 50 characters including spaces)
• Full names of all authors with degrees/titles
• Institutional affiliations with full postal addresses
• Email addresses of all authors
• Corresponding author's name, email, and telephone number
• ORCID iDs for all authors (registration at orcid.org is free)
• Word count, number of tables, number of figures
• Conflict of interest statement
• Funding acknowledgement (if applicable)
• Data availability statement

Main Manuscript File (Anonymized)

1. Title (no author details)
2. Abstract
3. Keywords
4. Introduction
5. Literature Review / Theoretical Framework
6. Methodology / Research Design
7. Results / Findings
8. Discussion
9. Conclusion and Policy Implications
10. References
11. Appendices (if any)

Abstract Requirements

The abstract is a standalone, self-contained summary of the paper. It must be structured with the following components clearly reflected (but not necessarily with sub-headings):

• Purpose/Objective: What question or problem does the study address?
• Design/Methodology: What approach, data, or methods were used?
• Findings: What were the key results?
• Research Implications: What do the findings mean for theory or practice?
• Originality/Value: What is novel about this contribution?

Abstracts must be between 150 and 300 words (depending on manuscript type). No citations, abbreviations, or undefined acronyms should appear in the abstract.

Keywords

Provide 4 to 6 keywords that are not already in the title. Keywords should reflect the main topics of the paper and facilitate database indexing. Use lowercase except for proper nouns. Separate with semicolons. Where applicable, include at least one JEL classification code (Journal of Economic Literature).

Introduction

The introduction should: state the research problem clearly; explain the relevance and significance of the study in the African context; briefly review related literature and identify the gap; state the research objective(s) and/or hypotheses; and outline the structure of the paper. The introduction should not exceed 15–20% of total word count.

Literature Review / Theoretical Framework

This section should demonstrate thorough engagement with relevant prior research. It must: identify key schools of thought, empirical findings, and theoretical frameworks; highlight the gap or debate the study addresses; and justify the theoretical lens or model adopted. Avoid excessive quotation; paraphrase and synthesize.

Methodology

This section must be sufficiently detailed to allow replication. It should include: research design (quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods); data sources, sampling procedures, and sample characteristics; description of variables with clear operationalization; analytical techniques and statistical software used; and a discussion of the validity, reliability, and limitations of the methodology.

Results and Discussion

These may be presented as separate sections or combined, depending on manuscript type. Quantitative studies must present sufficient statistical output (tables, regression outputs, tests of assumptions). Qualitative studies must provide rich, well-coded evidence. All claims must be grounded in the data.

Conclusion and Policy Implications

The conclusion must: summarize the main findings; relate findings back to the research questions; discuss theoretical and practical implications; recommend policy interventions where applicable; acknowledge limitations of the study; and propose directions for future research.

4.4 Tables and Figures

• All tables and figures must be numbered consecutively (Table 1, Table 2; Figure 1, Figure 2).
• Each table/figure must have a descriptive title placed above (tables) or below (figures).
• Source of data must be cited below each table/figure.
• Tables should be formatted in Word (not as images). Use simple, clear formatting.
• Figures must be submitted in high resolution (minimum 300 dpi) as TIFF, EPS, or high-quality JPG.
• Color figures will be reproduced in full color online but may appear in grayscale in print. Ensure figures remain interpretable in grayscale.
• Avoid placing tables at the end of the document; embed them at the appropriate location in the text.

4.5 Equations and Statistical Notation

• Equations must be typeset using Microsoft Equation Editor or MathType. Do not use scanned images of equations.
• Number all equations consecutively with Arabic numerals in parentheses on the right margin: (1), (2), etc.
• Clearly define all variables and symbols on their first appearance.
• Use italics for scalar variables; bold for vectors and matrices.

4.6 Citation and Reference Style

AJAEB uses the American Psychological Association (APA) 7th Edition reference style for all submission types. Authors are responsible for the accuracy and completeness of all references.

In-text Citations

Single author: (Okonkwo, 2022) | Two authors: (Mensah & Diallo, 2021) | Three or more authors: (Chukwu et al., 2023) | Direct quote: (Adesanya, 2020, p. 47) | Multiple works: (Asante, 2019; Kamau, 2021)

Reference List Formatting

• Journal Article: Surname, A. A., & Surname, B. B. (Year). Title of article. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), Page–Page. https://doi.org/xxxxx
• Book: Surname, A. A. (Year). Title of book: Subtitle (Edition). Publisher.
• Book Chapter: Surname, A. A. (Year). Chapter title. In B. B. Editor (Ed.), Book title (pp. xx–xx). Publisher.
• Working Paper: Surname, A. A. (Year). Title (Working Paper No. XXX). Institution. URL
• Institutional Report: Organisation Name. (Year). Report title. Publisher. URL

All references must be listed alphabetically and include DOIs where available. References must be complete - incomplete references will delay review.

4.7 Supplementary Materials

Authors may submit supplementary materials (appendices, datasets, replication codes, interview guides, etc.) alongside the main manuscript. Supplementary files are reviewed alongside the manuscript and, if accepted, published alongside the article online. They are not typeset; authors are responsible for their quality and presentation.

4.8 How to Submit

1. Visit the journal portal at: https://www.ajaeb.org and navigate to 'For Authors' > 'Make a Submission.'
2. Create or log into your OJS user account. If new, register as an Author.
3. Follow the 5-step OJS submission wizard: upload files, enter metadata, add contributing authors, and confirm submission.
4. Upload the main manuscript file (anonymized) and the separate title page.
5. Upload supplementary files, figures, and tables if applicable.
6. Complete all required metadata fields, including abstract, keywords, and JEL codes.
7. Complete the submission checklist and submit.
8. You will receive an automated acknowledgement email with your Manuscript ID. Retain this ID for all correspondence.

4.9 Article Processing Charges (APC)

AJAEB operates on a Gold Open Access model. Upon acceptance of a manuscript, a publication fee (APC) of USD 150 is payable. This fee supports editorial management, typesetting, digital archiving, and online hosting. The APC is payable after acceptance and does not influence editorial decisions.

APC Waivers and Discounts

AJAEB is committed to ensuring that financial constraints do not prevent the publication of high-quality research from low-income contexts. Authors from low- and lower-middle-income countries (as classified by the World Bank) may apply for a full or partial APC waiver at the time of submission. Waiver applications are reviewed by the Managing Editor and are based on genuine financial need, not the academic merit of the submission.