1. Introduction
At AfriResearch, we take your privacy seriously. This policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you use our academic publication platform.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Account Information
- Full name and contact details
- Academic credentials and affiliations
- Email address and password
- Profile information (bio, research interests)
- ORCID ID and other professional identifiers
2.2 Publication Data
- Research papers and supplementary materials
- Author information and co-author details
- Publication metadata and keywords
- Citations and references
2.3 Usage Information
- Access logs and activity timestamps
- Publication views and downloads
- Search queries and browsing history
- Device and browser information
3. How We Use Your Information
- Process and publish research submissions
- Manage peer review processes
- Generate digital certificates
- Process payments via Airtel Money
- Track publication metrics and analytics
- Send important notifications and updates
- Improve platform features and user experience
4. Data Security
- Encrypted data transmission (SSL/TLS)
- Secure password hashing and storage
- Regular security audits and updates
- Access controls and authentication
- Backup and disaster recovery procedures
5. Your Rights
- Access your personal data and publications
- Request data corrections or updates
- Download your data in portable format
- Delete your account and associated data
- Opt-out of email communications
- Control privacy settings and visibility
6. Data Sharing
We share your information only with:
- Co-authors and collaborators (with consent)
- Peer reviewers (anonymized when required)
- Payment processors (transaction data only)
- Legal authorities (when legally required)
7. Cookie Policy
We use cookies for:
- Essential platform functionality
- User authentication and sessions
- Usage analytics and improvements
- User preferences and settings
8. Copyright Policies
- Authors retain full copyright of their work.
- AfriResearch is granted non-exclusive rights to distribute and display the work.
- Authors are responsible for ensuring that their submissions do not infringe on third-party copyrights.
- All content must include proper citations and references for third-party materials.
- Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of published content is prohibited.
9. Ethical Policies
- All submissions must adhere to academic integrity and ethical research standards.
- Plagiarism, data fabrication, and falsification are strictly prohibited.
- Authors must disclose any conflicts of interest related to their research.
- Peer reviewers are required to maintain confidentiality and provide unbiased feedback.
- AfriResearch reserves the right to reject or remove content that violates ethical guidelines.