Scope of AJARPP
The African Journal of Applied Research and Professional Practice (AJARPP) welcomes submissions that contribute new knowledge across communication, technology, health, governance, and socio-economic development.
Section A
Communication, Behaviour Change, and Development
Scope: Examines how communication processes, behaviour change strategies, participatory engagement, and advocacy shape development outcomes across communities, institutions, and public systems.
Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC)
- Behaviour change theories, nudges, and social norms approaches
- Community engagement, participatory communication, and co-creation
- Campaign design, audience segmentation, and message testing
- Communication for prevention, adoption, and sustained behaviour change
Strategic Communication for Policy, Advocacy, and Social Change
- Policy communication, public interest advocacy, and agenda setting
- Stakeholder engagement, coalition-building, and public dialogue
- Communication for inclusion, accountability, and citizen voice
- Evidence translation and knowledge mobilisation for decision-making
Interpersonal, Organisational, and Development Communication
- Interpersonal communication in service delivery and community development
- Institutional communication, trust-building, and organisational effectiveness
- Communication for social inclusion and culturally responsive practice
- Communication leadership in complex and resource-constrained settings
Risk, Crisis, and Resilience Communication
- Crisis, emergency, and disaster communication systems
- Misinformation management during public emergencies and humanitarian response
- Communication preparedness, trust, and protective action
- Resilience communication in fragile, conflict-affected, and climate-vulnerable contexts
Section B
ICTs, Digital Strategy, AI, and Development
Scope: Explores how digital technologies, digital strategy, data systems, and artificial intelligence can drive inclusive development, institutional transformation, innovation, and future-ready economies.
Digital Strategy, Transformation, and Innovation Systems
- Digital transformation strategy for public, private, and civic institutions
- Platform ecosystems, digital business models, and innovation management
- Digital maturity, change management, and institutional readiness
- Futures thinking, foresight, and technology adoption pathways
Artificial Intelligence, Automation, and Emerging Technologies
- Applied AI for development, public services, and social innovation
- Automation, augmented decision-making, and the future of work
- Responsible AI, algorithmic accountability, and AI governance
- Emerging technologies including IoT, robotics, blockchain, and immersive systems
Digital Public Infrastructure, Data Governance, and Cyber Resilience
- Digital identity, payment systems, interoperability, and public digital infrastructure
- Data governance, open data, privacy, and trusted data sharing
- Cybersecurity, cyber resilience, and digital risk management
- Digital rights, inclusion, and governance of networked societies
Digital Inclusion, Skills, and Equitable Access
- Digital inclusion for women, youth, persons with disabilities, and rural communities
- Digital literacy, advanced digital skills, and workforce readiness
- Affordable access, connectivity, and last-mile technology delivery
- Inclusive design, accessibility, and equitable technology adoption
Digital Health, Health Technologies, and Intelligent Care Systems
- Health information systems, telehealth, and connected care
- AI-supported diagnostics, decision support, and health analytics
- Digital tools for supply chains, service delivery, and patient engagement
- Ethics, equity, and governance of technology-enabled healthcare
Section C
Indigenous Knowledge, Sustainability, and Community Innovation
Scope: Focuses on locally grounded knowledge systems, community-led innovation, sustainability, and context-specific solutions that strengthen resilience, livelihoods, and inclusive development.
Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Applied Local Innovation
- Indigenous knowledge in development planning and problem-solving
- Community-led experimentation, adaptation, and frugal innovation
- Traditional institutions, social capital, and local governance practices
- Knowledge co-production between communities, researchers, and practitioners
Climate Resilience, Natural Resource Stewardship, and Sustainable Livelihoods
- Local adaptation to climate variability and environmental change
- Water, land, biodiversity, and ecosystem stewardship
- Sustainable livelihoods, circular practices, and community resilience
- Nature-based and indigenous approaches to disaster risk reduction
Food Systems, Agriculture, and Rural Transformation
- Climate-smart agriculture, agroecology, and regenerative practices
- Food security, food sovereignty, and resilient local food systems
- Rural innovation, extension systems, and value-chain development
- Technology-enabled but locally appropriate agricultural transformation
Cultural Heritage, Knowledge Preservation, and Intellectual Property
- Documentation and protection of indigenous and local knowledge
- Digital archiving, storytelling, and cultural memory systems
- Ethics of representation, access, and benefit-sharing
- Legal and policy issues in intellectual property and heritage protection
Section D
Media, Democracy, and Information Integrity
Scope: Investigates media systems, journalism, information ecosystems, and public discourse, with particular attention to democracy, representation, trust, and the integrity of information in a digital age.
Journalism, Public Interest Media, and Democratic Accountability
- Investigative journalism, watchdog functions, and accountability reporting
- Public interest media, newsroom innovation, and editorial independence
- Media freedom, journalist safety, and regulatory environments
- Media institutions and democratic resilience
Misinformation, Disinformation, and Information Integrity
- Dynamics of misinformation, disinformation, and coordinated influence
- Fact-checking, verification systems, and media literacy
- Deepfakes, synthetic media, and authenticity challenges
- Trust, credibility, and resilience in digital information ecosystems
Media Representation, Culture, and Inclusion
- Representation of marginalised communities in media and public discourse
- Media ownership, power, and narrative dominance
- Identity, culture, language, and decolonising media frameworks
- Ethics of representation in digital and legacy media
Platforms, Public Discourse, and Civic Participation
- Social platforms, content governance, and civic expression
- Digital discourse, online communities, and public opinion formation
- Media and technology in elections, participation, and civic mobilisation
- Governance of platform power and networked public spheres
Section E
Peace, Security, and Resilience
Scope: Explores the drivers of peace, human security, resilience, and social stability in contexts shaped by conflict, fragility, climate stress, digital threats, and rapid socio-political change.
Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding, and Social Cohesion
- Conflict analysis, mediation, and reconciliation processes
- Community peace infrastructures and local peacebuilding systems
- Gender, youth, and inclusive approaches to peace and social cohesion
- Trauma-informed recovery and post-conflict rebuilding
Human Security, Justice, and Protection Systems
- Human security, protection, and access to justice
- Security sector governance, policing, and civilian trust
- Violence prevention, safeguarding, and community protection systems
- Forced displacement, migration, and protection of vulnerable populations
Digital Security, Extremism, and Emerging Threats
- Cyber threats, digital harms, and security in networked societies
- Online radicalisation, extremism prevention, and resilience
- AI, surveillance, and security governance
- Critical infrastructure security and crisis preparedness
Climate Security, Resource Governance, and Resilience
- Climate-related insecurity, displacement, and adaptation pressures
- Natural resource governance and conflict sensitivity
- Food, water, and land security in fragile contexts
- Resilience planning for interconnected social, environmental, and security shocks
Section F
Education, Learning, and Human Capital Development
Scope: Addresses educational transformation, lifelong learning, skills development, and human capital systems needed for equitable, adaptive, and future-ready societies.
Teaching, Learning, and Educational Innovation
- Pedagogical innovation, learner-centred instruction, and assessment reform
- EdTech, learning analytics, and AI-supported learning environments
- Blended, hybrid, and flexible learning models
- Evidence-based approaches to improving learning outcomes
Curriculum, Policy, and System Reform
- Curriculum reform, competency-based learning, and relevance to future economies
- Education policy, governance, and system transformation
- Teacher professional development, leadership, and instructional support
- Quality assurance, accreditation, and education system performance
Equity, Inclusion, and Well-being in Education
- Inclusive education for girls, boys, and learners with disabilities
- Language, culture, and context-responsive education
- Student well-being, safety, mental health, and social-emotional learning
- Reducing disparities across geography, income, and social status
Skills, Employability, and Lifelong Learning
- TVET, workforce readiness, and school-to-work transitions
- Entrepreneurship, innovation skills, and the future of work
- Adult learning, reskilling, and continuous professional development
- Human capital formation for resilient and knowledge-based economies
Section G
Governance, Policy, and Public Sector Transformation
Scope: Examines how governance systems, institutions, public policy, and public sector reform shape inclusive development, service delivery, accountability, and long-term societal transformation.
Democratic Governance, Decentralisation, and Citizenship
- Decentralisation, local governance, and multi-level governance systems
- Citizen participation, civic accountability, and democratic inclusion
- Representation, legitimacy, and responsive institutions
- Human rights, equity, and rule of law in development governance
Public Policy, Institutions, and Development Management
- Public policy design, implementation, and evaluation
- Institutional reform, state capability, and public sector performance
- Results-based management, adaptive governance, and implementation systems
- Leadership, bureaucratic effectiveness, and public innovation
Public Financial Management, Accountability, and Service Delivery
- Budgeting, expenditure management, and domestic resource mobilisation
- Transparency, anti-corruption, and social accountability mechanisms
- Performance management and efficient public service delivery
- Data-informed governance and accountability systems
Urban, Territorial, and Local Economic Development
- Urban governance, municipal systems, and territorial planning
- Local economic development, jobs, and productive inclusion
- Infrastructure governance and resilient settlements
- Place-based development and sustainable communities
Section H
Health, Public Health, and Health Systems
Scope: Addresses applied research on population health, clinical and community health priorities, health systems strengthening, and equitable access to quality healthcare across the life course.
Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health
- Maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health interventions and outcomes
- Continuity of care across pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, infancy, and adolescence
- Early childhood development, nutrition, and caregiver support
- Quality improvement for frontline and community-based maternal and child health services
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
- Adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights
- Family planning, fertility intentions, and contraceptive access
- Menstrual health, reproductive autonomy, and gender-responsive care
- Prevention and management of sexually transmitted infections and reproductive health conditions
Public Health, Prevention, and Population Health
- Health promotion, disease prevention, and community health systems
- Epidemiology, surveillance, outbreak preparedness, and emergency public health response
- Nutrition, environmental health, WASH, and social determinants of health
- Prevention and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases
Health Systems Strengthening, Policy, and Financing
- Primary healthcare, referral systems, and integrated service delivery
- Health workforce development, leadership, and performance improvement
- Health financing, insurance, governance, and accountability
- Policy implementation, service quality, and equity in health systems
Future Health Systems, Innovation, and One Health
- Precision public health, predictive analytics, and health innovation
- Climate change, planetary health, and health system resilience
- One Health approaches linking human, animal, and environmental health
- Implementation science for scalable, context-responsive health solutions