Peer Review Process
YALIW is committed to rigorous, constructive, and culturally informed peer review. Our process is designed to elevate African and Caribbean scholarship — not to gatekeep or impose external standards.
Overview
All submissions to YALIW undergo a double-blind peer review process. Authors' identities are hidden from reviewers, and reviewers' identities are hidden from authors. This ensures fairness and focuses evaluation solely on the quality of the scholarship.
Reviewers are selected based on their expertise in the relevant discipline, region, and methodology. All reviewers have active research agendas and deep familiarity with African or Caribbean intellectual traditions.
Step-by-Step Process
Step 1: Submission
Author submits paper through the YALIW submission form. The submission includes title, abstract, full paper (PDF), keywords, region, discipline, and language declaration.
Step 2: Initial Check
Editorial team checks for completeness, scope alignment, and adherence to language policy. Papers that do not meet basic requirements are returned to the author with guidance for resubmission.
Step 3: Reviewer Assignment
Two to three peer reviewers with relevant expertise are selected. Reviewers are informed of the paper's title and abstract and given 4 to 6 weeks to complete their evaluation.
Step 4: Peer Review
Reviewers evaluate the paper based on: methodological transparency, contextual rigor, analytical precision, and innovative contribution. They provide written feedback and one of the following recommendations:
- Accept as is — No revisions needed
- Minor revisions — Author makes small changes before publication
- Major revisions — Author revises and resubmits for another review round
- Reject — Paper does not meet YALIW's standards
Step 5: Editorial Decision
Editorial team reviews the recommendations and feedback. A final decision is made and communicated to the author within two weeks of receiving all reviews.
Step 6: Revision and Resubmission
If revisions are requested, the author has 30 days to resubmit. Revised papers are reviewed by the original reviewers when possible.
Step 7: Publication
Accepted papers receive a DOI and are published in the YALIW database. Authors receive a notification with a permanent link to their work.
Reviewer Criteria
YALIW reviewers are scholars with:
- A PhD or equivalent professional experience
- An active research agenda
- Expertise across African, Caribbean, or Diaspora studies
- Commitment to epistemic diversity and methodological rigor
- Understanding of both global academic standards and regional intellectual contexts
Evaluation Criteria
Reviewers assess each submission against four core criteria:
Methodological Transparency
The paper clearly articulates its epistemological foundations and research methods.
Contextual Rigor
The scholarship demonstrates deep engagement with its cultural, historical, and regional context.
Analytical Precision
Arguments are logically coherent, evidence-based, and clearly communicated.
Innovative Contribution
The work advances its field through new data, novel analysis, theoretical innovation, or documented practice-based research.
Reviewer Guidelines
Reviewers are expected to:
- Complete reviews within 4 to 6 weeks
- Provide constructive, developmental feedback — not just criticism
- Declare any conflicts of interest before accepting an assignment
- Maintain confidentiality of the review process
- Evaluate the scholarship on its own terms, not against external or Western-centric standards
Appeals Process
Authors may appeal an editorial decision if they believe the review was unfair or misinformed. Appeals must be submitted in writing within 30 days of the decision. The appeal will be reviewed by a senior editor not involved in the original decision. Final decisions on appeals are issued within 30 days.
Become a Reviewer
YALIW is seeking peer reviewers for our founding cohort. If you meet the reviewer criteria and are committed to epistemic diversity and methodological rigor, we welcome your application.
To express interest, please contact us at yaliw@timbuktu-group.africa with your CV and a brief statement of your expertise.