ACTIVA: Journal of Applied Community Development is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, transparency, accountability, and respect for communities involved in research and development activities. The journal follows internationally recognized principles of publication ethics and promotes responsible scholarly practices among authors, editors, reviewers, and all parties involved in the publication process.

Authors' Responsibilities

Authors must ensure that submitted manuscripts:

• Present original work and accurately report research processes and findings.
• Include appropriate authorship contributions and acknowledge all individuals who have contributed significantly to the research.
• Disclose sources of funding and any potential conflicts of interest that may influence the research or its interpretation.
• Provide proper citations and acknowledge the contributions of previous studies.
• Maintain data integrity and ensure that research data are reported honestly and transparently.
• Obtain permission for the use of copyrighted materials, including images, tables, figures, and other protected content.

The journal strictly prohibits unethical practices, including fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, duplicate publication, undisclosed text recycling, citation manipulation, and inappropriate authorship.

Community Research Ethics

Because ACTIVA focuses on community engagement and applied development, authors must ensure that community participants are treated with dignity, respect, cultural sensitivity, and fairness. Research activities must avoid exploitation and prioritize the rights, safety, and well-being of participating communities.

Ethical approval or an ethics-waiver statement must be provided when research involves human participants or identifiable personal data. Authors must obtain informed consent from participants, particularly when using identifiable images, personal information, or individual narratives.

Editors' and Reviewers' Responsibilities

Editors and reviewers must:

• Maintain the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and related information.
• Declare and avoid any conflicts of interest.
• Conduct evaluations objectively and without discrimination or personal bias.
• Make decisions based on academic quality, originality, relevance, and scholarly merit.

Handling Ethical Concerns

ACTIVA investigates allegations of research and publication misconduct fairly and transparently. When ethical violations or significant errors are confirmed, the journal may take appropriate actions, including issuing corrections, expressions of concern, retractions, or other measures necessary to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.