Peer Reviewer Process

All manuscripts submitted to the International Journal of Community Service for Sustainable Development Goals undergo a rigorous multi-stage evaluation process to ensure their alignment with the journal’s scope, adherence to academic standards, and contribution to the advancement of knowledge in the field. The journal employs a single-blind peer review process, wherein the reviewers remain anonymous to the authors, ensuring an impartial assessment of the manuscript’s quality, originality, and scholarly significance. The review process is structured as follows:

1. Initial Screening: Upon submission, each manuscript undergoes a preliminary evaluation by the Assistant Editor to verify compliance with fundamental submission requirements, such as formatting, structure, and completeness. Simultaneously, one of the Editors-in-Chief assesses the manuscript’s thematic relevance and alignment with the journal’s scope. Manuscripts failing to meet these criteria are promptly rejected without proceeding to the peer review stage.
2. Peer Review: Manuscripts passing the initial screening are assigned to a handling editor, who then selects a minimum of two independent experts in the relevant domain to conduct a single-blind peer review. Reviewers critically evaluate the manuscript based on methodological rigor, originality, theoretical and practical contributions, clarity, and coherence of argumentation.
3. First Decision: The handling editor compiles the reviewers' assessments and makes a preliminary recommendation. A manuscript may be (a) rejected, (b) accepted with minor or major revisions, or (c) provisionally accepted pending formatting adjustments. At least two comprehensive review reports must be obtained before any decision is made. In cases where the reviewers provide conflicting evaluations, an additional reviewer may be consulted. The final decision rests with the Editor-in-Chief, who considers both the reviewers’ feedback and the handling editor’s recommendation before making a determination.
4. Revision Stage: If revisions are requested, the manuscript is returned to the corresponding author, who is granted a maximum of three weeks to revise and resubmit the manuscript. Authors must address all reviewer comments systematically, ensuring clarity and completeness in their responses. The revised manuscript is then reassessed by the handling editor to determine whether the modifications are sufficiently responsive to the reviewers’ concerns. If the revisions are deemed inadequate, the manuscript may be returned to the author for further improvements, repeating this cycle as necessary. Only after satisfactory revisions are made will the manuscript proceed to the final acceptance and production stage.

Through this meticulous review process, the International Journal of Community Service for Sustainable Development Goals upholds the highest standards of scholarly publishing, fostering the dissemination of impactful and high-quality research.