Focus and Scope
The Journal of Policy and Development Studies (JPDS) is an international, peer-reviewed, open access scholarly journal committed to advancing knowledge in the fields of public policy, governance, and development studies. The journal provides a multidisciplinary platform for researchers, academics, policymakers, and practitioners to publish high-quality theoretical, empirical, conceptual, and applied research that contributes to evidence-based policymaking and sustainable development.
JPDS was established with two primary objectives. First, to publish innovative and impactful research that enhances understanding of policy formulation, implementation, governance, and socio-economic development. Second, to provide an efficient and rigorous peer-review process that ensures the timely dissemination of high-quality research to the global academic and policy communities.
As an open access journal, JPDS ensures that all published articles are freely and permanently accessible online without subscription or registration barriers. This approach increases the visibility, accessibility, and impact of published research while supporting knowledge sharing among researchers, practitioners, governments, international organizations, and development agencies worldwide. Open access also facilitates indexing, citation, text mining, data analysis, and educational use, thereby contributing to wider dissemination and practical application of research findings.
The journal welcomes original research articles, systematic literature reviews, policy analyses, case studies, comparative studies, methodological papers, and review articles that contribute to the advancement of policy research and development studies.
JPDS publishes four issues annually (March, June, September, and December).
The Editorial Board welcomes submissions in, but not limited to, the following areas:
- Public Policy Analysis
- Public Administration
- Public Management
- Governance and Institutional Development
- Public Sector Reform
- Political Economy
- Political Science
- Comparative Public Policy
- Public Finance and Fiscal Policy
- Economic Policy
- Development Economics
- Sustainable Development
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- International Development
- Regional Development
- Urban and Rural Development
- Community Development
- Social Policy
- Education Policy
- Higher Education Policy
- Health Policy
- Labour and Employment Policy
- Human Development
- Poverty Reduction
- Social Protection
- Gender and Development
- Environmental Policy
- Climate Change Policy
- Energy Policy
- Food Security Policy
- Agricultural Policy
- Water Resource Management
- Disaster Risk Reduction
- Environmental Governance
- International Relations and Global Governance
- International Development Cooperation
- Foreign Policy
- Migration and Refugee Policy
- Peace, Security, and Conflict Resolution
- Public Leadership
- Strategic Policy Management
- Policy Design and Implementation
- Policy Monitoring and Evaluation
- Regulatory Governance
- Institutional Performance
- Public Accountability and Transparency
- Anti-Corruption and Integrity Systems
- Digital Government
- E-Government
- Smart Governance
- Artificial Intelligence in Public Policy
- Digital Transformation of Public Services
- Data-Driven Policymaking
- Innovation Policy
- Entrepreneurship Policy
- Industrial Policy
- Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy
- Tourism and Development Policy
- Financial Inclusion
- Public Health Management
- Crisis and Emergency Management
- Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society
- International Organizations and Development Agencies
- Public Participation and Citizen Engagement
- Policy Ethics
- Public Law and Regulatory Studies
- Cross-Cultural Policy Studies
- Comparative Governance
- Research Methods in Policy Studies
- Interdisciplinary Studies related to Public Policy and Development
- Any other area related to public policy, governance, development studies, and the social sciences.
JPDS particularly encourages interdisciplinary research that bridges theory and practice, promotes evidence-based decision-making, and addresses contemporary national, regional, and global policy challenges. The journal welcomes submissions from scholars and practitioners across academia, government, international organizations, think tanks, and the private sector, with a special interest in research that contributes to sustainable development, inclusive governance, and public value creation.
JPDS adheres to internationally recognized standards of scholarly publishing and follows ethical publishing practices in accordance with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). All submitted manuscripts undergo an initial editorial screening followed by a rigorous double-blind peer-review process to ensure scientific quality, originality, and relevance.
