JOS Africa Focus Initiative

Why is this initiative so important?

An analysis of journal demographics between 2018-2023 for M&S journals, including JOS, identified a low representation of authors affiliated with African institutions. The analysis considered the first authors and co-authors.

The Africa Focus initiative was started to bring about a more balanced representation in JOS and, through a snowball effect, contribute towards bringing a more transformative change in our field. Africa Focus has outlined several tasks that will take place concurrently. This includes proactive work towards a better representation balance among authors and case study contexts, editorial board members and peer reviewers, plenary speakers, etc. The Africa Focus initiative also contributes to capacity building through elements like paper development workshops, active networking realised by first identifying and then engaging with peer networks, invitations to academic workshops and seminar series, developing JOS special issues focusing on Africa, and approaching our network of colleagues (including Associate Editors of JOS) to request their time as volunteers to shepherd JOS Africa Focus papers.

The Africa Focus initiative is a two-way learning process. We gain from learning about research and practice developed in the African continent, using novel methods and case studies that are particularly suited to addressing the problems and challenges in Africa. Through increased dissemination, such approaches will benefit from a more international dimension, work referenced and evaluated for deployment outside the core case study context, and new hybrid methods and unique solutions developed. On its part, Africa Focus will support authors and early career researchers by providing a platform for wider recognition of their research and practice.

Africa Focus leadership committee members 

To provide leadership and to steer the various inclusion, capacity building and dissemination activities around the initiative, the Africa Focus Leadership Committee was formally set up in December 2023 (following ratification by the OR Society). It includes academics from the OR Society and other international scholarly societies who have a strong connection with African research networks or have worked in African institutions or projects.