Guidelines for contributions to AgREN publications

AgREN members and others are encouraged to submit material for publication in both the Newsletter and as Network Papers. The type of material that is most suitable for submission is described below. Articles submitted as potential Network Papers will be assessed by an Editorial Committee and, where necessary, guidance will be given to authors in revising their papers for publication.

a) Newsletter Contributions: AgREN welcomes news from members that describes their work relating to the development of small-scale agriculture and sustainable rural livelihoods. AgREN would particularly like to hear about specific, on-going projects which are particularly innovative or other activities of interest to AgREN members. Contributions to the newsletter should be no more than 800 words, and may include photographs or illustrations. Shorter contributions are also appropriate. Please ensure that electronic versions of photographs have a resolution of at least 150 dpi.

b) Network Papers: AgREN Papers are broadly concerned with the design and promotion of appropriate agricultural technologies, with specific attention focused on the methods, processes, institutions and policies that promote pro-poor technical change and support equitable improvements in agriculture for developing countries. The principal focus of AgREN Papers should be adaptive research, extension or supporting mechanisms such as credit, marketing and producer organisations. Network Papers should seek to explore and promote the role of increasing agricultural productivity, resource conservation and farmer empowerment in the context of diversified rural livelihoods.

Network Papers should be between 6,000 and 12,000 words long, and include an abstract of 500-750 words highlighting research findings and policy implications.

Content:

• Papers should focus on practical experience in research and extension methods as well as innovations in the public or private provision of other agricultural services.
• Papers may make reference to current theoretical issues in the field of rural development, but their principal focus should be on the provision of well-written descriptions of practical and innovative experience that will be of use to other practitioners.
• Although AgREN has an interest in novel diagnostic and evaluation methods that help practitioners understand farmers' priorities and contexts, papers that follow through on such diagnosis and illustrate applications and outcomes are particularly welcome.
• Papers may be based on a broad range of sectors relating to agriculture, e.g. crop and livestock production, aquaculture, agroforestry, extension, natural resource use, environmental management, credit supply and marketing.
• Most AgREN papers describe an experience from a particular time and location, but they are written in such a way that practitioners on other areas can draw useful implications.

Referencing:
References should follow the examples below.

Books:
Carney, D. (1998) Sustainable rural livelihoods: What contribution can we make? London: DFID.

Journal articles:
Sanchez, P.A. (1995) 'Science in agroforestry'. Agroforestry Systems, No. 30, pp. 5-55.

Other information:

• Material submitted to the Network will be considered for publication on the understanding that is has not been submitted elsewhere.
• Material published by AgREN may, with acknowledgement to ODI, subsequently be published elsewhere.
  Contributors will be asked to sign a form transferring copyright for published material to ODI. This enables us to give others permission to photocopy Network material.
• Papers should be submitted both in hard copy and on 3½" disk or by email, in one of the widely used word-processing packages.
• All material should be submitted to the Network Coordinator at the address given below:

Agricultural Research and Extension Network
ODI, 111 Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7JD, UK
email: agren@odi.org.uk