CIRD Publications accepts manuscript submissions via email. Authors should send their complete manuscript package directly to the editorial office of the relevant journal. All submissions are acknowledged within 48 hours and undergo initial screening before being assigned to a handling editor.
"Manuscript Submission — CJED — [Short Paper Title]"
Submission Package
Your email submission must include:
- Cover Letter — Brief statement of originality, significance, and confirmation of no prior publication
- Manuscript File — MS Word (.doc or .docx) format, formatted per guidelines below
- Title Page — Title, all author names, affiliations, email addresses, and corresponding author details
- Abstract & Keywords — Embedded in manuscript (150–250 words; 5–8 keywords)
- Figures & Tables — High resolution figures (300 dpi minimum) submitted separately as JPG or PNG
- Declaration — Statement on conflict of interest, funding, and ethical approvals (if applicable)
General Formatting
- Paper size: A4 (21 × 29.7 cm)
- Margins: 2.54 cm (1 inch) on all sides
- Font: Times New Roman, 12pt
- Line spacing: Double-spaced throughout
- Page numbers: Bottom centre of each page
- Word count: 3,000–8,000 words (excluding references)
- File format: Microsoft Word (.docx)
- Language: English (British or American, consistently applied)
Manuscript Structure
- Title — Concise, informative, max 20 words
- Abstract — 150–250 words, structured
- Keywords — 5–8 relevant keywords
- Introduction
- Literature Review (where applicable)
- Methodology
- Results / Findings
- Discussion
- Conclusion
- References
- Appendices (if any)
Referencing Style
CIRD Publications uses the APA 7th Edition referencing style for all journals. Authors should ensure all in-text citations are included in the reference list and vice versa.
Okafor, J. N., Mensah, K. A., & Williams, P. T. (2025). Economic development and institutional quality in sub-Saharan Africa. Developing Economy Journal, 10(2), 45–67. https://doi.org/10.15580/DEJ.2025.2.045
Book:
Adeyemi, F. B. (2023). Principles of development economics (3rd ed.). Academic Press.
Tables & Figures
- Tables and figures should be numbered consecutively (Table 1, Table 2; Figure 1, Figure 2)
- Each table and figure must have a descriptive title placed above (tables) or below (figures)
- All figures submitted at minimum 300 dpi resolution
- Source/notes placed below the table or figure
- Avoid colour-only differentiation in figures (use patterns, labels)
All manuscripts submitted to CIRD journals undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review process. In double-blind review, the identities of both the authors and reviewers are concealed from each other throughout the process.
Manuscript received and acknowledged. Editorial screening for scope, formatting, and plagiarism check.
Editor-in-Chief evaluates manuscript for scope and academic merit. Decision to send to review or desk reject.
Minimum two independent expert reviewers evaluate the manuscript. Authors' identities are anonymised.
Editor communicates decision: Accept, Major Revision, Minor Revision, or Reject. Reviewer comments shared.
Authors address reviewer comments and submit revised manuscript with a detailed response letter.
Accepted manuscript undergoes copy-editing, typesetting, and proofing before online publication.
Originality & Plagiarism
Submitted manuscripts must be original and not under consideration elsewhere. All submissions are screened using plagiarism detection software. A similarity index above 20% will result in desk rejection.
Author Contributions
All listed authors must have made substantial contributions to the conception, design, data collection, analysis, or interpretation of the work. Guest and gift authorship are not permitted.
Conflict of Interest
Authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence the research findings or their interpretation in the cover letter and manuscript.
Data Availability
Authors are encouraged to make data underlying their findings available upon reasonable request. Dataset links and data availability statements should be included in the manuscript.
Ethical Approval
Research involving human participants or animals must include ethics committee approval details. Authors confirm compliance with ethical standards for research.
Corrections & Retractions
CIRD follows COPE guidelines for post-publication corrections. Significant errors will result in formal erratum notices; misconduct may result in retraction with full transparency.
| Article Type | Description | Word Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Original Research Article | Full empirical or theoretical research study with complete methods and results | 4,000–8,000 words |
| Review Article | Systematic or narrative review synthesising existing literature | 6,000–10,000 words |
| Short Communication | Brief report of significant preliminary findings | 1,500–3,000 words |
| Case Study | Detailed analysis of a specific case with broader implications | 2,500–5,000 words |
| Conceptual Paper | Theoretical framework or conceptual contribution | 4,000–7,000 words |
| Book Review | Critical review of a recently published academic book | 800–1,500 words |
| Policy Brief | Evidence-based policy recommendations for practitioners | 1,500–3,000 words |
Have a question about submitting to a CIRD journal? Send us a message and our editorial team will respond within 24–48 hours.