The International Journal of First Aid Education (IJFAE) has launched the #IJFAEAfrica campaign and a new
Building on the IJFAE’s history of supporting emerging researchers through free, targeted workshops and mentorship, #IJFAEAfrica is a fresh call for contributions from Africa showcasing program evaluations, training innovations, community projects, and reflective practice pieces. Consider it a shared space where African-led scholarship, community practice, and academic inquiry meet, and where anyone with experience, data, or stories can receive support to develop their work into publishable articles with the IJFAE’s support.
Beginning in 2026, #IJFAEAfrica will drive contributions by providing enhanced support. We will build regional ambassador networks, form university partnerships, host writing workshops, and expand digital visibility. Articles that we publish from Africa or by African authors will be published in full in at least one African language in addition to English.
Research from Africa remains underrepresented in international guidelines. This is our response to that. We encourage you to join us by exploring the
Jarida la Kimataifa la Elimu ya Huduma ya Kwanza (IJFAE) limeanzisha kampeni ya #IJFAEAfrica pamoja na
Ikiendeleza historia ya IJFAE ya kusaidia watafiti wanaochipukia kupitia warsha maalum za bure na ushauri elekezi, #IJFAEAfrica ni mwito mpya wa michango kutoka Afrika unaoonesha tathmini za programu, ubunifu wa mafunzo, miradi ya kijamii, na machapisho ya tafakari ya kitaalamu. Hili lichukulie kama jukwaa la pamoja ambapo taaluma inayoongozwa na Waafrika, vitendo vya kijamii, na utafiti wa kitaaluma vinakutana—na ambapo yeyote mwenye uzoefu, takwimu, au simulizi anaweza kupata msaada wa kuendeleza kazi yake hadi kuwa makala inayoweza kuchapishwa kwa msaada wa IJFAE.
Kuanzia mwaka 2026, #IJFAEAfrica itaongeza mchango kupitia msaada ulioboreshwa. Tutaunda mitandao ya mabalozi wa kikanda, kuanzisha ushirikiano na vyuo vikuu, kuandaa warsha za uandishi, na kupanua mwonekano wa kidijitali. Makala zitakazochapishwa kutoka Afrika au na waandishi wa Afrika zitachapishwa kikamilifu angalau katika lugha moja ya Kiafrika pamoja na Kiingereza.
Utafiti kutoka Afrika bado unawakilishwa kwa kiwango kidogo katika miongozo ya kimataifa. Huu ndio mchango wetu wa kukabiliana na hali hiyo. Tunakuhimiza kujiunga nasi kwa kutembelea
L’International Journal of First Aid Education (IJFAE) a lancé la campagne #IJFAEAfrica ainsi qu’une nouvelle
S’appuyant sur l’historique de l’IJFAE en matière de soutien aux jeunes chercheurs grâce à des ateliers gratuits et ciblés ainsi qu’à du mentorat, #IJFAEAfrica est un nouvel appel à contribution provenant d’Afrique, mettant en avant des évaluations de programmes, des innovations en formation, des projets communautaires et des réflexions professionnelles. Considérez-le comme un espace partagé où la recherche africaine, la pratique communautaire et l’enquête académique se rencontrent, et où toute personne disposant d’expérience, de données ou d’histoires peut recevoir un accompagnement pour transformer son travail en article publiable avec le soutien de l’IJFAE.
À partir de 2026, #IJFAEAfrica renforcera les contributions en offrant un soutien élargi. Nous développerons des réseaux d’ambassadeurs régionaux, établirons des partenariats universitaires, organiserons des ateliers d’écriture et augmenterons la visibilité numérique. Les articles que nous publierons provenant d’Afrique ou écrits par des auteurs africains seront publiés intégralement dans au moins une langue africaine en plus de l’anglais.
La recherche africaine reste sous-représentée dans les directives internationales. Voici notre réponse. Nous vous invitons à nous rejoindre en explorant
The International Journal of First Aid Education (IJFAE) is an inclusive, open-access platform dedicated to advancing evidence-based first aid education worldwide. As part of our commitment to global health equity and to elevating underrepresented voices, we are launching the #IJFAEAfrica campaign to spotlight African-led first aid education, practice, and research. This editorial introduces #IJFAEAfrica and our new Africa Collection, and invites educators, practitioners, students, and researchers across the continent to share their work, stories, and innovations with the world.
First aid education is essential for developing a strong public health system; it builds knowledge and practical skills, including among individuals without formal medical training (
These gaps include limited awareness of the journal among first aid educators, non-governmental organizations, and training institutions; a low volume of African-led research submissions; and the absence of local ambassador networks and formal university linkages. As a result, valuable local knowledge, innovations, and contextualized practices remain under-shared, reinforcing inequities in whose evidence informs global first aid standards.
Coordinated, strategic campaigns have proven effective in addressing similar challenges across global health, education, and public safety (
The primary purpose of the #IJFAEAfrica campaign is to amplify African authors and African research by positioning the IJFAE as a trusted, accessible, and relevant platform for first aid education research and innovation in African contexts. Increasing awareness that IJFAE is free to read and free to publish could lower structural barriers in places where funding for research is harder to come by. The IJFAE has a history of actively supporting emerging authors, including early-career researchers, through free online workshops, short courses, and mentorship programs in research methods, scientific writing, and first aid education. These have been designed to strengthen authors’ capacity and confidence, and we intend to maintain this offer as our volunteer body of ambassadors grows.
A key campaign goal is to increase submissions from African authors, particularly those focused on first aid education, training models, bystander response, and community-level interventions grounded in local realities. We especially welcome manuscripts such as program evaluations, training innovations, community-based projects, implementation case studies, student-led initiatives, and reflective practice pieces that translate local experience into shared learning. The campaign provides an opportunity to position first aid education as a core pillar of public health: increased awareness, training, and participation are interlinked and can drive behavior change when underpinned by evidence-based first aid practices and the translation of research into teaching and training. In this way, all stages of the Chain of Survival Behaviors can be implemented.
At a broader level, the campaign seeks to influence systems and policy by highlighting the life-saving impact of bystander intervention and the essential role of high-quality first aid education in strengthening emergency care pathways. By elevating evidence from African settings, the campaign can support advocacy for increased investment in training, community education, and institutional capacity building.
Our target audience includes:
Academics and practitioners who may serve as authors, reviewers, and collaborators
Universities and training institutions
NGOs and professional organizations involved in first aid and emergency care
Policymakers and health system leaders.
If you run a local training program, coordinate community health volunteers, or teach first aid to students, you already have experience, data, and stories that could become a publishable paper with our support.
Numerous global health campaigns—such as those focused on infectious disease prevention, vaccination uptake, and guideline dissemination—provide valuable lessons for this effort. They demonstrate how coordinated messaging, community engagement, and evidence translation can drive sustained impact (
These examples underscore the power of intentional outreach, capacity-building, and platform accessibility in shifting who produces and benefits from knowledge. They also show that campaigns which center local voices and foster partnerships, rather than relying on one-directional dissemination, are more likely to produce lasting impact. For #IJFAEAfrica, this means prioritizing African languages, local champions, and community-led topics, and intentionally designing activities that enable educators and practitioners to shape both the questions asked and the evidence shared.
Throughout Africa, lifesaving first aid skills are being taught to laypersons in local training centers by local practitioners. Through #IJFAEAfrica, such work could be documented, good practices shared, and new approaches tested and improved across Africa and beyond.
Our vision is simple: to make IJFAE the go-to academic and practical resource for first aid education research and innovation across Africa. The campaign narrative emphasizes IJFAE as a platform that values African-led scholarship, supports emerging authors, and bridges academia, practice, and community outreach. Core messages focus on visibility, trust, and partnership within the health, education, and emergency sectors. Rather than positioning the journal as an external authority, the campaign frames IJFAE as a shared space for learning, innovation, and impact.
#IJFAEAfrica will start in 2026 with a focus on first-aid training, pre-hospital care, and research around emergency medical care.
To bring this vision to life, #IJFAEAfrica will focus on several priorities:
Establishing regional ambassador networks to connect the journal with local educators, institutions, and communities
Forming partnerships with universities and training institutions to integrate first aid education research and IJFAE content into teaching and assessment
Hosting writing workshops and webinars tailored for new and emerging authors, including those who have never published before
Leveraging social media and professional networks to improve digital visibility, promote African-language content, and share success stories
Fostering interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaborations that connect first aid educators with public health, emergency care, and policy stakeholders.
In the first year of the campaign important activities include:
Hosting targeted online writing workshops
Recruiting ambassadors from a minimum of 5 African countries
Highlighting at least 3 African-led articles in the African Collection
Partnering with at least 2 universities to incorporate IJFAE content
Community-based and practitioner-led partnerships will be essential to ensure relevance and sustainability. We will monitor the number and nature of partnerships, explore whether university collaborations lead to research training opportunities and increased student engagement in first aid education, and track the integration of IJFAE-related content into academic programs. Measuring the success of this work over time will help us focus on activities where there is the most need and learn as we go.
We also plan to share periodic updates on campaign progress through the IJFAE website, social media channels, and future editorials, so contributors can see how their efforts contribute to a wider movement.
Effective implementation will require a clear communication strategy that leverages institutional partners, professional societies, academic networks, and digital platforms. Dissemination efforts will use both formal academic channels (journal articles, conference presentations, institutional partnerships) and informal outreach (social media, community networks, practitioner groups). Translating key messages into widely spoken African languages and tailoring content to different audiences will be central to this approach.
Through well-designed collaborative efforts, the campaign can lead to greater participation, stronger evidence, and improved first aid education and outcomes across Africa. Our aim is that first aid educators, community volunteers, students, and emergency care professionals across the continent see IJFAE as a home for their ideas, innovations, and research.
The all-volunteer Editorial Team of the IJFAE calls on its readers to support the #IJFAEAfrica campaign. Whether you are an experienced researcher, a community trainer, a student, or a practitioner, there is a role for you.
There are many ways to get involved including:
Sharing your work: Submit manuscripts that describe your programs, evaluations, training innovations, or lessons learned from practice.
Learning and building skills: Join our online workshops and mentoring opportunities to develop skills in research design, data analysis, and scientific writing.
Connecting and collaborating: Partner with us as a university, training institution, NGO, or professional body, or volunteer as a reviewer or ambassador.
You can start by exploring the
Even if you have never published before, or if English is not your first language, we encourage you to get in touch. Imperfect drafts and early-stage ideas are welcome; our commitment to equity includes supporting authors to shape and strengthen their work, not only assessing final manuscripts.
We invite you to support #IJFAEAfrica by sharing this article with colleagues, students, and friends; following us on
Hamza Tamba, William Kimanzi and Mai Hilal Al Mahdi Abdulwahhab provide first aid education in Africa. Nardos Makonnen and Esther Good work with healthcare providers in Africa.