It is the aim of the African Journal of Emergency Medicine to be representative of all parts of the African continent; we recognise within this that some African researchers in emergency care may be disadvantaged in the available range of journals into which they can publish their work. We are aware that this is due to many reasons, including that topics are concerned with conditions which are largely irrelevant to other audiences.
AfJEM is dedicated to supporting all authors who wish to attempt publication on an African emergency care topic. In order to maintain and produce a high quality, international standard emergency medicine journal, AfJEM has devised Author Assist. AfJEM uses a team of experienced volunteers (Author Assistants) to help improve the quality of manuscripts before peer-review submission.
Read our assessment of Author Assist published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine: accessible post-print version here.
AfJEM is dedicated to supporting all authors who wish to attempt publication on an African emergency care topic. In order to maintain and produce a high quality, international standard emergency medicine journal, AfJEM has devised Author Assist. AfJEM uses a team of experienced volunteers (Author Assistants) to help improve the quality of manuscripts before peer-review submission.
Read our assessment of Author Assist published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine: accessible post-print version here.
What would you like to do
- I would like to apply for assistance with my manuscript
- I have not started my manuscript and need help on how to go about doing that*
- I have not started a research project but need help on how to develop my ideas*
- I'd like to become an Assistant
* AfJEM does not provide research development per se. However, we recommend the Science Supercourse ran out of the Library of Alexandria (YouTube clip) if you want to develop a research project from the ground up. If you have already done the research and want to write it up you can use AuthorAID. AuthorAID helps researchers in developing countries to publish and otherwise communicate their work. It also serves as a wider global forum to discuss and disseminate research.
Author Assist, general rules and regulations:
AfJEM’s Author Assist functions independently from peer-review, and assistance rendered does not constitute an automatic indication of publication; it is rather a process to improve an author’s chances in succeeding at peer review.
A manuscript may be referred to Author Assist by the editor in the following instances:
Reasonable measures are in place to ensure that peer reviewers and section editors are blinded to whether Author Assistance was provided. If a manuscript had been referred for Author Assist following peer review, the original peer reviewers may not review the manuscript when the manuscript is subsequently resubmitted. An Author Assistant may not be involved in peer review or section editing of a manuscript he/ she assisted in. In the case of section editing, the case will be referred to the international adviser or vice versa by the editor to maintain blinding.
Published material will contain no reference to whether Author Assist was used.
Responsibility for a manuscript rests with the principal author (who cannot be the Author Assistant). Authors should complete the Memorandum of Understanding at the end of this document and submit this to the editor within ten days of being assigned an Author Assistant but before commencing the process. Likewise, authors should engage Author Assistants within ten days of receiving advice and should continue engaging on a regular basis in order to avoid a protracted process. Author Assistants should endeavour to provide clear and succinct advice starting within ten days of the date of agreement on the memorandum of understanding.
Should creative differences exist between the author and the Author Assistant, authors may request a replacement by writing to the editor, motivating why a replacement is necessary. The editor may contact the Author Assistant for clarification in order to decide. The editor’s decision in this situation is final. An opposite scenario is managed similarly.
Authors may withdraw from Author Assist at any time during the process and should inform the editor as soon as a decision has been made to withdraw.
Author Assistants may withdraw from Author Assist in exceptional circumstances and only with the explicit consent of the editor.
English/ French Author Assistants are also available
The editors of AfJEM adhere to the ethical guidance provided by the publisher, Elsevier and the Committee on Publication Ethics. Records for Author Assist, including peer review and editorial comments are maintained by the editors and are available for third party quality assurance and ethical conduct reviews on request.
AfJEM’s Author Assist functions independently from peer-review, and assistance rendered does not constitute an automatic indication of publication; it is rather a process to improve an author’s chances in succeeding at peer review.
A manuscript may be referred to Author Assist by the editor in the following instances:
- on request of an author (either pre- or post- peer review),
- on the advice of the editor in chief at the time of submission (if the author agrees to assistance) or
- on the advice of a section editor following peer review (if the author agrees).
Reasonable measures are in place to ensure that peer reviewers and section editors are blinded to whether Author Assistance was provided. If a manuscript had been referred for Author Assist following peer review, the original peer reviewers may not review the manuscript when the manuscript is subsequently resubmitted. An Author Assistant may not be involved in peer review or section editing of a manuscript he/ she assisted in. In the case of section editing, the case will be referred to the international adviser or vice versa by the editor to maintain blinding.
Published material will contain no reference to whether Author Assist was used.
Responsibility for a manuscript rests with the principal author (who cannot be the Author Assistant). Authors should complete the Memorandum of Understanding at the end of this document and submit this to the editor within ten days of being assigned an Author Assistant but before commencing the process. Likewise, authors should engage Author Assistants within ten days of receiving advice and should continue engaging on a regular basis in order to avoid a protracted process. Author Assistants should endeavour to provide clear and succinct advice starting within ten days of the date of agreement on the memorandum of understanding.
Should creative differences exist between the author and the Author Assistant, authors may request a replacement by writing to the editor, motivating why a replacement is necessary. The editor may contact the Author Assistant for clarification in order to decide. The editor’s decision in this situation is final. An opposite scenario is managed similarly.
Authors may withdraw from Author Assist at any time during the process and should inform the editor as soon as a decision has been made to withdraw.
Author Assistants may withdraw from Author Assist in exceptional circumstances and only with the explicit consent of the editor.
English/ French Author Assistants are also available
The editors of AfJEM adhere to the ethical guidance provided by the publisher, Elsevier and the Committee on Publication Ethics. Records for Author Assist, including peer review and editorial comments are maintained by the editors and are available for third party quality assurance and ethical conduct reviews on request.
Download the Author assist memorandum of understanding:
| afjem_author_assist_policy_sh__1_.pdf |
