Scope and Research Areas

The Journal of Sustainable Development and Policy (JSDP) is an interdisciplinary platform dedicated to publishing high-quality, peer-reviewed research that addresses critical issues at the intersection of sustainability, public policy, social equity, and global development. As the world faces intensifying challenges—from climate change and biodiversity loss to inequality, urbanization, and geopolitical uncertainty—there is an urgent need for research that not only understands these complexities but also informs transformative policy solutions.

JSDP welcomes diverse scholarly contributions that advance theoretical, empirical, and practice-based knowledge across a broad spectrum of topics. Our scope embraces both local and global perspectives, North and South contexts, and qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method approaches. The journal is particularly committed to amplifying research that centers social justice, ecological integrity, participatory governance, and resilience-building across systems.

 

Core Focus Areas

JSDP covers a wide range of thematic areas within the broader domains of sustainable development and public policy. We actively seek manuscripts that engage with—but are not limited to—the following topics:

 

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Global Frameworks

  • Critical analysis of SDG implementation strategies at local, national, and regional levels
  • Interlinkages between SDGs, including trade-offs and synergies
  • Policy coherence and institutional alignment with Agenda 2030
  • Monitoring, evaluation, and financing of sustainable development initiatives
  • Localization and community-based approaches to sustainable development

 

2. Environmental Sustainability and Climate Policy

  • Climate adaptation, mitigation, and resilience planning
  • Environmental governance and multi-level policy coordination
  • Nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based adaptation
  • Climate justice, loss and damage, and vulnerability assessments
  • Renewable energy policy, decarbonization, and low-carbon transitions
  • Biodiversity conservation, land degradation, and ecosystem services

 

3. Urbanization, Infrastructure, and Resilient Cities

  • Sustainable urban planning, smart cities, and mobility solutions
  • Green infrastructure, energy efficiency, and climate-resilient buildings
  • Urban-rural linkages and spatial justice
  • Informal settlements, housing policy, and inclusive urban governance
  • Disaster risk reduction (DRR) and urban resilience strategies

 

4. Governance, Institutions, and Policy Innovation

  • Good governance, transparency, and anti-corruption measures
  • Participatory policy-making, decentralization, and civic engagement
  • Institutional reform, policy coherence, and inter-agency collaboration
  • Behavioral public policy and regulatory experimentation
  • Technology, digital governance, and open data for policy innovation

 

5. Social Equity, Inclusion, and Human Development

  • Gender-responsive and intersectional policy analysis
  • Indigenous knowledge systems and cultural sustainability
  • Youth empowerment, disability inclusion, and generational justice
  • Education, healthcare, and social protection policy
  • Migration, displacement, and integration frameworks
  • Rights-based approaches to development

 

6. Sustainable Agriculture, Food Systems, and Rural Development

  • Agroecology, permaculture, and climate-smart agriculture
  • Food sovereignty, nutrition governance, and food security policy
  • Agricultural value chains, food loss and waste reduction
  • Rural-urban migration and sustainable livelihoods
  • Access to land, water, and common property resources

 

7. Sustainable Finance, Economics, and Trade

  • Green finance, ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) metrics, and impact investing
  • Public finance reforms for sustainability outcomes
  • Carbon pricing, taxation, and subsidy reform
  • Trade policy, development economics, and fair trade systems
  • Corporate sustainability, circular economy models, and ethical consumption

 

8. Conflict, Peacebuilding, and Humanitarian Policy

  • Post-conflict reconstruction and institutional rebuilding
  • Resource conflicts, extractivism, and environmental peacebuilding
  • Humanitarian response coordination and disaster governance
  • Policy responses to forced migration and statelessness
  • Transitional justice, reconciliation, and social cohesion mechanisms

9.  Science, Technology, and Innovation for Sustainability

  • Role of digital technologies (AI, IoT, blockchain) in sustainable governance
  • Knowledge systems integration and inclusive innovation
  • Sustainable technology adoption in rural and urban contexts
  • Ethical dimensions of innovation and technology transfer
  • Research-policy-practice interfaces and co-production of knowledge

 

Interdisciplinary and Cross-Cutting Themes

JSDP strongly encourages submissions that adopt interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and systems thinking approaches. Articles that bridge multiple domains and integrate perspectives across disciplines (e.g., economics and ecology, law and climate science, sociology and urban design) are especially welcome.

Cross-cutting themes include:

  • Climate and health nexus
  • Sustainability education and pedagogical innovation
  • Environmental justice and decolonial perspectives
  • Gender and technology in policy implementation
  • Global public goods and common pool resource management
  • Resilience thinking and adaptive governance
  • Ethics, equity, and power in sustainability transitions

 

Types of Acceptable Submissions

JSDP publishes a variety of scholarly formats, including:

  • Original Research Articles: Empirical, theoretical, or mixed-method studies contributing new insights
  • Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: Syntheses of existing research with policy implications
  • Policy Briefs and Analyses: Shorter, evidence-based papers focused on actionable recommendations
  • Case Studies and Field Reports: Context-specific analyses of programs, interventions, or local innovations
  • Theoretical and Conceptual Papers: Articles advancing frameworks or revisiting foundational debates
  • Book Reviews and Commentaries: Critical engagements with recent publications or timely topics
  • Special Issues: Thematic collections coordinated by guest editors on emerging areas of interest

 

Geographic and Demographic Inclusion

JSDP values global inclusion and equity. We welcome studies from:

  • High-, middle-, and low-income countries
  • Urban and rural settings
  • Formal and informal governance systems
  • Communities at the frontlines of ecological or policy transition

We encourage submissions from early-career researchers, practitioners, women, indigenous scholars, and others underrepresented in traditional publishing. Multilingual research summaries, regional insights, and comparative studies are highly encouraged to reflect the diversity of experiences in sustainable development and policymaking.