African Journals Online
African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development (Previously
known as African Journal of Food and Nutritional Sciences)

Instructions to authors…./ Instructions aux auteurs…

The African Journal of Food and Nutritional Sciences (AJFNS) is open to both African and non-African contributors. Besides academic research, the journal will provide an avenue for sharing information on national- level food and nutrition programs. It is anticipated that three issues will be produced every year, with each issue combining both research and programs aspects. The journal will be produced in English. In the medium term, abstracts will be produced in both English and French. French translations of the articles will be available as soon as more stable funding is assured. 

Submissions 
Manuscripts will be accepted for consideration on condition that they are submitted exclusively to African Journal of Food and Nutritional Sciences (AJFNS). This restriction does not apply to abstracts on press reports published in connection with scientific meetings. All materials submitted for publication must be typed in double line space on numbered pages and should conform to the uniform requirements for manuscripts submitted to biomedical journals (1). A word count excluding abstracts and references must be given in all submissions. Manuscripts must be submitted in triplicate including a diskette preferably in word format. 

Address all submissions to: 

The Editor-in-Chief 
African Journal of Food and Nutritional Sciences
P. O. Box 29086Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: +254 2 249799 Fax: +254 2 249799
E-mail: [email protected]  

Authorship 
It is a requirement that all authors must give signed consent to publication. They should provide their names, qualifications, designations, current address including fax and e-mail numbers for purposes of correspondence. A covering letter signed by all authors should identify the corresponding author responsible concerning the manuscript. Credit for authorship requires substantial contributions to: (a) conception and design, or analysis and interpretation of data; (b) the drafting of the article or critical revision for important intellectual content and (c) final approval of the version to be published. 

Format 
Original articles and Reviews: Should be between three and four thousand words with a maximum of eight tables or other illustrations. Original articles should review data from original research. Reviews must be critical analyses of the subjects reviewed giving the current and a balanced view of all the issues, for instance controversies. Reviews should preferably be contributed by authorities and experts in the respective field. The message carried in both reviews and original articles must be clear and of significance. An abstract not exceeding 250 words must be included. Copies of related papers already published and any non-standard questionnaires used should be submitted. This requirement is important where details of study methods are published elsewhere or when the manuscript is part of a series e.g. part 11 of a series where part 1 has been published elsewhere. References should not exceed a maximum of thirty. 
Short communications: Should not be more than 1000 words and one illustration. This should focus on any interesting findings/news an author wishes to convey to the readers of AJFNS. The abstract should be in prose form. 
Letters to the editor: Must not be more than 500 words; contain one illustration with not more than five references. The abstract should in prose form. 

Key words 
A maximum of five key words should be added at the bottom of the abstract in reviews and original articles. 

References 
This must be numbered consecutively as they are cited. All authors must be listed when they are no more than three. When they are three or more the first three are listed followed by "et al". The title, source, and journal abbreviations should conform to those in index medicus), year, volume and inclusive page numbers. 

Review articles should have not more than 40 references and original articles not more than 30. Personal communications, unpublished data and manuscripts "in preparation" or "submitted for publication" are unacceptable. If necessary such material may be incorporated in the appropriate place in the text. The following are sample references: 

1. Periodical 
Bunce G.E., Kinoshita J., Horwitz J. Nutritional factors in cataract. Ann. Rev. Nutr. 1990; 10: 233 - 254. 
2. Chapter in a book 
Spencer N. Poverty and child health in less developed countries. In: Poverty and child health; Oxford, UK and New York, NY: Radcliffe Medical Press, 1996: 
74-94. 

3. Book 
Parry J. Introduction to Ophthalmology. Oxford University Press, Oxford. Ed 3. 1989 Pp 188 - 194. 

Illustration Figures: Should be professionally designed and numbered in Arabic numerals. Symbols and numbering should be clear and large enough to remain legible after reduction to fit the width of a single column. The back of each figure should include the sequence number, the name of the author and proper orientation (eg "Top"). Legends for illustrations should be on a separate sheet and should not appear on the 
illustration. Definitions of any abbreviations that appear on the figure should be provided. 

Tables: Should be provided each on a separate page, double spaced and a title provided for each. Tables should be numbered in Arabic numerals. 

Copyright 
Published material in the AJFNS is covered by copyright. Authors transfer all rights to the journal upon publication. Permission must be granted by the Editor for use of any published material. 

Reference 
1. Uniform requirements for manuscripts submitted to biomedical journals. International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Ann. Intern. Med. 1997; 126: 36-47. 

Manuscript Submission Checklist

Three hard copies 

• A diskette preferably in word format 
• Abstract of approximately 250 words in reviews and original articles 
• References, figures and tables cited consecutively in text 
• Separate illustrations from text appropriately labelled 
• Category of article specified 
• Covering letter, including appended signatures of all authors 
• Name and address of corresponding author