About the Journal

The Global South Journal of Applied Research (GSJAR) is an international, multidisciplinary, peer-reviewed and open-access scholarly journal dedicated to publishing rigorous, context-sensitive and solution-oriented research. It provides a platform for researchers, educators, practitioners, professionals, policymakers and community-based knowledge contributors whose work addresses practical challenges affecting societies, institutions and communities across the Global South.

GSJAR recognises that significant social, educational, economic, health, environmental, technological and governance challenges cannot always be adequately understood or addressed within the boundaries of a single discipline. The journal therefore encourages interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research that connects evidence, theory, policy and practice.

The journal particularly welcomes research that is locally grounded, methodologically transparent, ethically conducted and capable of generating meaningful implications for public policy, professional practice, institutional improvement, community development and future research.

GSJAR is published online and provides immediate open access to its content. It seeks to strengthen the visibility of research produced in and about historically underrepresented regions while promoting equitable South-South and South-North scholarly exchange.

Vision: The vision of GSJAR is to become a trusted international platform for applied scholarship that is locally grounded, methodologically rigorous, socially responsive and globally relevant.

Mission: The mission of GSJAR is to advance the production, dissemination and practical use of high-quality research addressing real-world challenges in Global South contexts. The journal promotes rigorous applied, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research; increases the visibility of scholarship originating from underrepresented regions; connects research findings with policy, professional practice, institutional priorities and community needs; encourages equitable and ethical research collaboration; supports context-sensitive theories, methods and interventions; facilitates scholarly exchange among researchers, practitioners, policymakers and institutions; and promotes open, inclusive and responsible scholarly communication.

Understanding the Global South: GSJAR uses the term Global South as an analytical and relational concept rather than as a rigid geographical classification. The term broadly includes societies and communities across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and the Pacific that have experienced unequal participation in global systems of knowledge production, economic development and institutional power.

The journal also recognises that social exclusion, structural inequality and economic marginalisation may exist within countries conventionally associated with the Global North. Manuscripts concerning such communities may be considered when their relevance to Global South scholarship, comparison, collaboration or knowledge exchange is clearly demonstrated.

GSJAR does not treat the Global South as culturally, politically, historically or economically homogeneous. Authors are expected to explain the specific geographical, historical, social, cultural and institutional context of their research and avoid unsupported generalisations.

Aims and Scope: GSJAR publishes original and significant research that contributes to understanding and addressing practical problems. The journal welcomes quantitative, qualitative, mixed-method, experimental, evaluative, participatory, action-research, implementation-research, design-based and interdisciplinary studies.

Research may be local, national, regional, international or comparative. However, every submission must demonstrate substantive relevance to Global South contexts, priorities, communities, institutions or systems.

Education, Learning and Human Development: The journal considers research relating to educational policy, teaching and learning, teacher education, curriculum, assessment, educational technology, inclusive education, higher education, vocational education, lifelong learning, and childhood and youth development.

Psychology, Health and Community Wellbeing: GSJAR welcomes studies in applied psychology, mental health, public health, community health, counselling, behavioural science, wellbeing, disability, rehabilitation, health education, social care and community-based interventions.

Governance, Law and Public Policy: The journal considers research in public administration, governance, institutional reform, legal and regulatory studies, public-service delivery, decentralisation, social justice, citizenship, accountability and evidence-informed policymaking.

Business, Economics and Livelihoods: Relevant areas include management, entrepreneurship, labour, employment, financial inclusion, informal economies, small enterprises, social enterprise, organisational development, development economics and sustainable livelihoods.

Technology, Innovation and Digital Society: The journal welcomes research concerning digital transformation, artificial intelligence, information and communication technology, digital inclusion, educational technology, responsible innovation, technology adoption and technology for social development.

Environment, Agriculture and Sustainability: GSJAR considers studies relating to climate resilience, environmental governance, sustainable development, agriculture, food systems, natural-resource management, rural transformation, disaster-risk reduction and community-based sustainability.

Equity, Inclusion and Culture: The journal welcomes research concerning gender, disability, social exclusion, indigenous and local knowledge, migration, poverty, marginalised communities, cultural diversity, human rights and inclusive development.

Research Methods, Evaluation and Implementation: Relevant areas include research methodology, psychometrics, programme evaluation, impact assessment, implementation research, monitoring and evaluation, evidence synthesis, measurement and the development or validation of context-sensitive research tools.

Minimum Scope Requirement: A manuscript should normally satisfy at least one of the following conditions. The research should have been conducted substantially within a Global South context; address a priority, problem or institutional challenge relevant to Global South societies; make a significant theoretical, methodological, policy or practice contribution derived from Global South evidence; provide a meaningful comparison involving one or more Global South contexts; advance South-South or equitable South-North research collaboration; or examine marginalised communities or structural inequalities with clear relevance to Global South scholarship.

The nationality, country of residence or institutional affiliation of an author does not independently determine eligibility. The substantive relevance, originality, quality and scholarly contribution of the manuscript are the primary considerations.

Research Quality Expectations: Submissions must present a clearly defined and significant research problem, engage appropriately with relevant scholarship, employ a suitable and transparently reported methodology, comply with applicable research-ethics requirements, interpret evidence accurately and responsibly, and explain the implications of the findings for policy, professional practice, institutions, communities or future research.

Authors must represent participants and communities respectfully and contextually. Manuscripts should demonstrate originality and make a meaningful contribution to knowledge, practice, policy or methodological development.

Out-of-Scope Submissions: The journal will normally not consider manuscripts that lack a clear applied, policy, professional or practical contribution; purely descriptive studies without meaningful analysis; personal opinions presented as research; manuscripts without substantive relevance to the Global South; highly specialised clinical, laboratory or engineering studies beyond the expertise of the journal’s editorial and reviewer network; commercial or promotional material; research lacking mandatory ethics approval, informed consent or required participant safeguards; fabricated, falsified, plagiarised or improperly attributed material; or manuscripts generated substantially through artificial intelligence without responsible human authorship, verification and appropriate disclosure.

Target Readership: GSJAR is intended for researchers and academics, university and college faculty, doctoral and postgraduate scholars, educators and teacher educators, policymakers and public administrators, health and psychology professionals, social-care practitioners, development professionals, non-governmental and community organisations, business and social-enterprise professionals, technology and innovation specialists, programme evaluators, research-methodology experts, and international and regional development institutions.