Dakar — The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) reaffirmed a history of shared ideals and collaboration with the launch of a bi-annual journal titled Journal of African Transformation in Dakar today, 11 June 2015.

The inter-disciplinary journal, a joint effort by Africa's premier social science research organization, the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) and ECA, which aspires to become the leading think tank in Africa, will feature material by researchers and practitioners working in organizations and universities on the transformation of African societies.

Published in French and English, the Journal of African Transformation seeks to bridge the gap between research and practice and gives socio-economic practice on the continent a firm basis in research. 'The journal is our contribution to the greater intellectual debate on transformative processes and agendas in Africa, which are complex and interwoven, requiring a multi-disciplinary approach', Carlos Lopes, the Executive Secretary of ECA says.

Ebrima Sall, Executive Secretary of CODESRIA sees the publication as 'an important step in CODESRIA's effort to make the conduct of basic research to which we remain dedicated more influential on practice in a rapidly transforming Africa'.

With contributions from both researchers and practitioners, its articles will routinely seek to draw out practical policy implications and make recommendations for policymaking.

Contributors will focus on the historical roots of transformation processes, how they play out over time, their impact on lives on the continent and the futures they signify for Africa. The transformations encompass changes in gender and intergenerational relations; family and household configurations; property regimes; international political economies; and local, national, regional and global politics.

The journal seeks to contribute to the Pan-African project of integrating the continent across linguistic lines and countering the inconsistencies and division of knowledge and practice across these lines.

The journal was launched today during CODESRIA's 14th General Assembly in Dakar, Senegal.