Author Guidelines

To access author guidelines, use this link.

Manuscript Checklist

If your manuscript does not meet these requirements it can be rejected, or the review process will be delayed. You can download a Word version of the checklist or use the web version below.

#	Requirement	Summary	Yes or No
	There should be enough evidence that the manuscript was prepared for social work (e.g. family work, community work, environmental social work and spiritual social work), social development, and social services with implications for Africa – this is evidenced by author’s discipline or qualification, title, key words and implications and literature used.	My manuscript is relevant to social work
	Abstract must be 200 words maximum or very close to 200 – no references and subheadings in abstract. Abstract should ideally be a paragraph of six sentences covering the following: Social problem/issue followed by questions or hypothesis; Philosophy or philosophical approach that shaped the understanding of the problem and the approach to the study or thinking; Theory that shaped analysis and discussion; Methods used to bring out the data; Results/findings and conclusions; and Implications and recommendations. Please note: We openly, actively and proudly promote use of Africa philosophies and theories as a journal. We do this to revalue Africa knowledge that has for long been neglected or colonised. If Africa writers use Africa literature, theories and philosophies, this can be achieved easily.	My abstract meets the requirements of the AJSW
	Introduction – one paragraph only, no references, the final sentence must inform the reader what the article contains or how it is structured. About 10 lines of introduction required.	My introduction is one paragraph with no references
	Using minimum of 75% African references/authors/sources (includes orature)/databases in the background, literature review, methodology, discussion; implications for social work. Literature from the Global South should be prioritised where African (or Global South) literature is not available.	I have used a minimum of 7.5 out of every 10 references (75%)
	Prioritizing African philosophy, theories, models and frameworks, and where these are not available, we request you to propose your own to guide your research or create your own after your research. Philosophies, theories, models and frameworks from the Global South should be prioritised where African (or Global South) ones are not available.	I have prioritised African philosophy, theories, models and frameworks
	If you have done a literature or orature review (narrative or traditional, scoping, rapid, annotated, systematic or meta synthesis), provide the review question and methods including list of all your sources (e.g. databases, libraries etc). Include a list of oral and non-published sources included. Use African libraries, sources and databases such as Africa Journals Online (AJOL). Provide a detailed table (or list) with all the literature included in the review, the authors, year published, database found and summary of data that was extracted to answer the review question. The data extracted from the sources must be presented, this forms your findings.	Review questions/s included   Methods used to plan, source, decolonise, screen (include, or exclude), assess for quality, report, analyse etc are included   List of all sources/databases provided   List of all literature reviewed included   List of oral and non-published sources included   Findings presented
	Provide enough descriptions and attach evidence so that it is clear and convincing that data collection was done adequately, and to support that the methods described were actually followed. Providing relevant attachments is good practice, including photos, anonymised transcripts of data, ethics approval letter (eg from ASWDNet ethics board), permission letters etc	It is clear and convincing that data collection was done, adequately
	Findings and Discussion must be separated into two different sections	Findings are separated from Discussion
	Your conclusion must be one paragraph, no references.	One paragraph, no references
	Length of manuscript must be 5000 words maximum.	Number of words (should be less than 5001)
	Follow ASWDNet formatting guide for headings, subheadings, citing and references.	ASWDNet style used
	Ensure that you read your paper more carefully before submission to get rid of minor errors.	Revised before submission
	Submit one manuscript document, do not put a separate cover page or letter.	How many documents are you submitting (should be one)
	Did you receive ethics clearance or advice for your research, if not, please apply for ethics advice here https://africasocialwork.net/african-independent-ethics-committee/ (AIEC). We accept any of these (1) ethics clearance number from an Ethics Board – this is provided before the research (2) ethics advice number from the AIEC – this advice is provided before or after the research (3) a detailed personal statement about ethics that you use in your family or community and a reflection about how you applied these in the current research.	What ethics guidance do you have 1, 2 or 3? You need at least one of these.
	I will be invoiced if my manuscript is peer reviewed and accepted	I am aware of the open access fees
	Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy (read policy). AI must not be used to create content and replace the authors’ role of problem identification and solving, idea generation, creativity and critical thinking roles. AI can’t replace sources, and it can’t be referenced as a source. All submitted manuscripts must be cleaned of all AI content by the author, editors and reviewers will check for inappropriate AI content and manuscripts that are based on AI content will be rejected. Where used, AI must be acknowledged in writing.	I have provided an acknowledgement of AI use, reasons and a list of how AI was used

Useful links

African philosophy – https://africasocialwork.net/african-philosophy/

African theories – https://africasocialwork.net/african-theories-of-social-work/

African research methods – https://africasocialwork.net/research/

Ethics https://africasocialwork.net/african-independent-ethics-committee/ (AIEC)

AI Policy https://africasocialwork.net/standard-artificial-intelligence-ai-policy/

Template for manuscripts

Use the template below to make it easy to draft your manuscript. Simply download the template and replace the text in the template with your own. It saves time for you, for editors and the staff that does formatting.

Template-ajsw-2022 Download

Open access fees

The journal publishes articles that are accessible online free of charge. The number of manuscripts submitted to the journal increased tremendously following the journal’s indexing and accreditation with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), South Africa; Africa Journals Online; SCOPUS, Elsevier’s abstract and citation database; and several other indexing systems. The increase means we need to increase frequency of publications. But this comes at a cost. To cover this cost, in 2021 the publishers introduced charges for authors after peer review and acceptance. This practice is widely used globally to ensure that that research remain open access. Most of our writers are affiliated with universities and government departments that provide funding for publishing but we understand that other authors will not have access to such funds.

Current fees since 22 February 2021

African countries: ZAR875/USD60 per manuscript peer reviewed and accepted

International: ZAR1460/USD100 per manuscript peer reviewed and accepted

Fees beginning 1 June 2024

The peer review process was not impacted by the introduction of these charges. Acceptance of manuscripts is not ensured by the potential of a writer to pay, they are accepted based on their quality and how they meet the requirements of the journal.

Discounts are available upon request from confirmed students, members of national social work associations in Africa and members of the Africa Social Work and Development Network (ASWDNet).

There are journals that do not charge page fees published under the ASWDNet banner. These journals are listed below.

Other journals to consider

Journal of Development Administration – https://jda.africasocialwork.net

There is not payment for this journal.

Journal of Social Issues in Non-Communicable Conditions and Disability – https://sinccd.africasocialwork.net

There is no payment for this journal.

Journal of Ubuntu – https://ubuntu.africasocialwork.net

There is no payment for this journal.