Call for Papers

Special Issue on: Private International Law and Sustainable Development in Africa

Edited by:

Dr Chukwuma Okoli, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom

Dr Eghosa O. Ekhator,University of Derby, United Kingdom

Professor Veronica Ruiz Abou-Nigm,University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Professor Ralf Michaels, MaxPlanck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law, Germany

Hans van Loon, Netherlands

​OVERVIEW

The Journal of Sustainable Development Law and Policy invites scholarly articles for publication in a special issue focusing on the theme “Private International Law and Sustainable Development in Africa.” This is an area with limited scholarship in Africa, as most research has traditionally emphasized substantive laws, often neglecting the critical role of private international law in sustainable development. Interested researchers should consider themes such as the ones explored in Michaels/Ruiz Abou-Nigm/Van Loon (eds.) (2021): The Private Side of Transforming our World - UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and the Role of Private International Law. Proposals should emphasise private international law and sustainable development issues that are of particular relevance to the African context.

We encourage researchers to explore the intersection of private international law and sustainable development in relation to issues such as environmental protection, corporate social responsibility, and the protection of vulnerable groups (for example, employees, consumers, migrants, and indigenous peoples). Interesting topics in private international law could include how multinational companies are held accountable to host communities in Africa regarding cross-border environmental issues including climate change, as well as social and economic sustainability. Researchers could engage with the regulatory framework for multinational companies in cross-border transactions affecting corporate social responsibility in Africa, and the enhancement of human rights standards and social justice in cross-border employment matters in Africa .They might also wish to reflect on the implications for Africa of the new EU Directive 2024/1760 on corporate sustainability due diligence, and of similar due diligence legislative initiatives deployed at the national level in different countries. Other relevant topics include the African Continental Free Trade Agreement and its relationship with private international law and sustainable development, as well as the harmonization of private international law in Africa and its relation with sustainability goals, regional economic integration, abuses of party autonomy in international commercial contracts, and the appeal of international commercial adjudication in Africa. These are all themes that can be explored from a sustainability perspective.

We are particularly interested in innovative academic approaches that address these themes within the African context. We welcome proposals from all approaches, including critical, doctrinal, analytical, conceptual, reflexive, interdisciplinary, post-critical and speculative traditions of law, that enable a serious scholarly reflection on private international law and sustainable development. Contributions will start filling a significant gap in the literature and promote a deeper understanding the relationships, the impact and the potential of private international law in sustainable development in Africa.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Applicants are invited to submit a research proposal of up to 500 words, together with a short CV in the same document. Submissions should be sent to c.okoli@bham.ac.uk, and copy E.Ekhator@derby.ac.ukandinfo@ogeesinstitute.edu.ng by 16 December 2024 with the email subject clearly marked “Submission Proposal – Special Issue JSDP – PIL and Sustainable Development in Africa”.

Proposals will be reviewed by the editors and selected participants will be informed by the end of January 2025.

Full draft of selected papers of up to 8,000 words inclusive of footnotes should be submitted by 30 June 2025 following the ‘submission guidelines’ section of The Journal of Sustainable Development and Policy: Submit your manuscript here

The editors are seeking opportunities for funding to support a conference in late 2025 to discuss draft papers in advance of publication of the special issue in early 2026.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The Private Side of Transforming our World – UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and the Role of Private International Law here

ABOUT THE JOURNAL

The Journal of Sustainable Development Law and Policy, Print ISSN 978-0-9920099-0-8

The Journal of Sustainable Development Law and Policy is a SCOPUS-indexed and peer-reviewed interdisciplinary journal published by the Institute for Oil, Gas, Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development, Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria. It is published in June (Spring) and October (Fall) by the Afe Babalola University Press, Nigeria.

Since the first issue was published in 2012, the Journal has gained increased recognition for fostering the dissemination of scholarly research work by teaching and research scholars in Africa and across the world in the area of sustainable development law and policy. The thematic focus of the journal spans across broad areas of sustainable development law and policy ranging from the economic, social and environmental dimensions. As such papers that explore broad themes of sustainable development such as banking, environment, natural resources, public private partnerships, alternative dispute resolutions, peace, and conflict studies are normally given top consideration.

The Editorial Board of the JSDLP is composed of international development scholars and experts from Italy, United Kingdom, Indonesia, Nigeria, Canada and the United States would provide leadership and lend their expertise to promoting the journal internationally.

The Journal of Sustainable Development Law and Policy is available online for download on this website, while we welcome subscriptions for hard copies at our standard rates. We provide a discounted rate for institutional subscriptions from universities, colleges and corporate organizations.

For more information, please visit http://jsdlp.ogeesinstitute.edu.ng/

For subscriptions, please contact: jsdlp@ogeesinstitute.edu.ng,

Tel: +234 81 40000 988

PEER REVIEW PROCESS

All manuscripts are peer reviewed prior to publication. The JSDLP utilizes a double-blind peer review process, to ensure originality, scholarly relevance, and readability- which means that both the reviewer and author’s identities are concealed from the reviewers, and vice versa, throughout the review process. To facilitate this, authors are required to submit manuscripts that would not give away their identity.

After respective submission deadlines, members of the Editorial Committee read all submissions and agree which should go forward to the review process. Referees are then assigned by the Committee from a pool of referees according to their expertise. Reviewers are sent a manuscript review template (attached), which provides guidance on key review indicators and on how to communicate review results.

The factors that are taken into account in review are as follows:

  • Relevance: Is this paper relevant to the thematic focus of this journal?

  • Originality: Are the results/ideas novel and previously unpublished?

  • Significance: Does the paper canvass and discuss ideas that significantly advance or move knowledge forward)

  • Soundness: Is this paper technically sound and complete?

  • Are the claims supported by theoretical/ experimental/empirical results?

  • Ethics: Is there any ethical issue?

  • Readability: Is the paper well organized and easy to understand?

  • Language: Is the paper written in correct English and style?

  • Citations: Are all sources properly cited in accordance with the Oxford Standard for the Citation of Legal Authorities, which is the house style for the journal?

Referees may accept the manuscript, reject the manuscript or might require a revision for style and/or content. Each Reviewer will give a recommendation about publication of a manuscript according to the following list of options:

• Accept- No revision needed.

• Accept- Minor revisions needed.

• Major revisions needed- Suggest revision & resubmission.

• Decline (provide appropriate reasons in comments).

After the reviewer’s report is received, the paper is assigned to an Associate Editor for the review/redrafting/editing process, which can be substantial, depending on the article. Upon receipt of the revised article from the author, and after final approval by referees and associated editor, the Editor-in-Chief reviews the paper and makes a final determination on whether or not to include the paper for publication in the JSDLP based on the recommendations of the reviewers and associated editor. The Editor-in-Chief then issues a written confirmation of acceptance or rejection to the author. Once an article is accepted, the Managing Editor will carry out a thorough desk edit and liaise with Afe Babalola University Press/the author/Associate Editor over author queries, publisher proofs and corrections.

The JSDLP strives to ensure that the time between submission and final decision are as reasonable as possible, without compromising quality.

PUBLICATION FREQUENCY

This journal publishes three issues per volume, and one volume per year.

PAPER SUBMISSION FEES

This journal charges no submission or processing fees.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

Copyright over published articles belong to the Institute for Oil, Gas, Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development (OGEES), Afe Babalola University, Nigeria

PRIVACY STATEMENT

The names and email addresses entered in this journal site will be used exclusively for the stated purposes of this journal and will not be made available for any other purpose or to any other party