Hosting of Established and Emerging Journals on the Sierra Leonean Writers Series (SLWS) Platform

The Sierra Leonean Writers Series (SLWS) invites established journals and institutions planning to establish new journals to submit proposals for hosting and publication under the SLWS platform.

As SLWS continues to expand its role as a credible publishing outlet—now recognised within national curricula and examinations—it seeks to partner with journals that demonstrate strong editorial leadership, rigorous quality assurance, and relevance to scholarly, professional, and policy communities.

Who Can Apply

This call is open to:

• ?Established journals seeking a reliable and reputable hosting and publishing platform
• ?Universities, research institutions, professional bodies, and think tanks planning to establish new journals
• ?Consortia or networks of scholars or practitioners proposing interdisciplinary journals

Scope of Journals

Proposals are welcome from all areas of research and practice, including but not limited to:

• ?Education and Pedagogy
• ?Health and Medical Sciences
• ?Social Sciences and Humanities
• ?Business, Economics, and Finance
• ?Science, Technology, and Innovation
• ?Governance, Law, and Public Policy
• ?Culture, Literature, and Creative Arts
• ?Environment and Sustainable Development
• ?Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)
• ?Interdisciplinary and emerging fields

Responsibilities of Partner Journals / Institutions

Accepted journals will retain intellectual ownership and editorial independence but must:

• ?Appoint a qualified Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Team
• ?Establish and maintain a credible Editorial Board
• ?Implement a robust peer review system (preferably double-blind)
• ?Ensure strict adherence to publication ethics and academic integrity
• ?Maintain a regular publication schedule
• ?Guarantee the quality, originality, and relevance of all published content
• ?Manage manuscript solicitation, review, and editorial decisions

What SLWS Will Provide

SLWS will:

• ?Host and publish journals under its recognised platform
• ?Provide support for ISSN registration and indexing pathways where applicable
• ?Provide institutional email addresses to the editor-in-chief and managing editor to avoid the use of personal emails
• ?Offer production support (copy-editing, typesetting, layout) subject to agreement
• ?Enhance visibility and dissemination through its academic and policy networks
• ?Ensure alignment with national and international publishing standards

Conditions for Acceptance

Proposals will be assessed against the following criteria:

1. Credibility of the Journal or Institution
    Evidence of institutional backing or a clear plan for institutional support
2. Editorial Capacity and Leadership
    Demonstrated expertise and experience of the proposed editorial team
3. Quality Assurance Mechanisms
    Clear, transparent, and rigorous peer review and editorial processes
4. Ethical Compliance
    Commitment to internationally accepted standards on plagiarism, authorship, and research ethics
5. Clarity of Scope and Relevance
    Well-defined focus addressing a clear academic, professional, or policy need
6. Sustainability
    Feasible plan for regular publication and long-term viability
7. Alignment with SLWS Standards
    Commitment to uphold the quality and reputation of the SLWS platform

Submission Requirements

Interested journals and institutions should submit:

• ?A Journal Profile or Concept Note (for new journals)
• ?A Statement of Editorial Structure and Governance
• ?CV(s) of the Editor-in-Chief and key editorial members
• ?Details of the Editorial Board
• ?Description of the peer review process
• ?Evidence of past issues (for established journals) or sample content (for new journals)
• ?Proposed publication frequency and sustainability plan

Submission Details

Proposals should be submitted electronically to: publisher@slwritersseries.org
 Subject line: Journal Hosting Proposal – SLWS

Deadline: open

Final Note

This call represents an opportunity to strengthen scholarly publishing ecosystems in Sierra Leone and beyond. SLWS is particularly interested in journals that advance Sierra Leonean / African scholarship, inform policy, and contribute meaningfully to global knowledge production.