Submissions should contribute to developing new thinking and fresh debate on women’s rights and gender equality in Africa and other developing countries.

Writers need to:

• Write in an accessible and understandable style;
• Inform, educate or raise debate;
• Try to pin down reasons for contradictions and point out differences of opinion;
• Provide an analysis and an argument;
• Be logical;
• Be sensitive to but not uncritical of how gender, class and race affect the reporting of an event;
• Ensure the introduction encapsulates the contents of the piece and that it attracts the reader’s attention by either making a controversial statement, providing a thought-provoking or new insight into the subject.

We publish various different formats which range from 6,000 word more theorised articles, which form the main reference pieces in an issue, to shorter pieces with a minimum of 1,500 words.

Formats of contributions

The Article (6 000 words max) should be based on new research and contain analysis and argument

• The Briefing is not expected to be heavily theorised and is an adaptable format for writers to write on a wide range of subjects (2 500 – 4 000 words)
• The Focus examines an aspect of a chosen theme in detail (4 500 words max)
• The Profile looks in detail at an organisation, project or legislation, or a person (2 500 – 3 500 words)
• The Reportback is self-explanatory, e.g. reports on meetings, conferences workshops etc (1 500 – 4 000 words)
• The Review typically reviews books or films (1 500 – 3 000 words)
• The Interview can record a conversation among a group of people or a one-on-one interview in which the writer asks the interviewee/s questions on a subject (1 500 – 3 000 words)
• The Open Forum is a vehicle for carrying debate and argument, or pieces which deal with argument and difference of opinion on a subject/issue (2 500 – 4 000 words)
• The Perspective is an adaptable format in which writers are able to use a more personal reflective, narrative style (1 500 – 3 000 words)

All submissions are peer reviewed. Articles, briefing and focus pieces go through a double blind peer review process, while all other contributions are reviewed by at least one member of Agenda’s Editorial Advisory Group. 

Reviewers comment on the suitability of a text for publication in the Agenda journal, as well as provide comments to help develop the piece further for publication if required. Contributors will be asked to rework the paper accordingly. 

On resubmission, the piece will be assessed by the Agenda editor and a final decision made regarding its publication in the journal. 

Contributions must be submitted in the following format:

File type: Microsoft Word
Font: Arial
Size: 10 pt
Line spacing: single
Justification: left
Referencing: Harvard style

Please ensure that the submitted version does not have the ‘track changes’ facility active.
 
All submissions must have the following:

Abstract – 200-word abstract
Keywords – approx 5 keywords
Bio – 100-word author biography, including email address
Bio pic – a head-and-shoulders photo in 300 dpi jpeg format
Contributors are encouraged to provide photos and/or graphics to illustrate their submission

Please note that Agenda reserves the right to edit contributions with regard to length and accessibility or reject contributions that are not suitable or of poor standard.

Agenda also invites the submission of poems on the topic of women’s rights and gender.

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