Discount Policy (APC Discounts, Vouchers, Waivers)

International Journal of Disaster Risk Management (IJDRM) values the essential role of peer review and aims to support high-quality scholarship through transparent and fair APC discount mechanisms. This policy explains the types of discounts available, eligibility criteria, and how discounts are applied.

Principle of editorial independence: Discounts, vouchers, and waivers apply only after a manuscript is accepted and never influence editorial decisions, peer review outcomes, or the acceptance process.

1) Types of discounts available

IJDRM may apply the following APC-related benefits:

  1. Reviewer Voucher (EUR 10 per completed review) – discount on APC after acceptance.

  2. Best Paper Waiver (100% APC discount for selected papers) – annual/periodic recognition of outstanding manuscripts.

  3. Editorial discretion in exceptional cases – limited waivers/discounts may be considered under defined criteria and subject to documented justification.

2) Reviewer Voucher – EUR 10 APC Discount (per completed peer review)

For each peer review that is submitted through OJS and marked as completed, the reviewer receives an APC voucher valued at EUR 10.

Voucher rules

  • Eligibility: The voucher is issued only for reviews that are (a) submitted through OJS, (b) marked as completed, and (c) delivered within the agreed review timeframe (or within an approved extension).

  • Purpose-limited: The voucher can be used only as an APC discount for an accepted manuscript in IJDRM. It is not a cash payment and cannot be exchanged for money or other benefits.

  • Who may use it: The voucher may be used by the reviewer as an author (corresponding author or co-author) on the accepted manuscript. In exceptional cases, transfer may be approved by the editorial office on a case-by-case basis, provided the request is documented and does not conflict with this policy.

  • Combining vouchers: Multiple vouchers may be combined for the same accepted manuscript, up to the full APC amount (a voucher cannot generate a negative balance or refund).

  • Scope: Vouchers do not apply at the submission stage or during peer review. IJDRM does not charge submission fees or peer review fees.

  • Validity: Unless otherwise stated in the voucher confirmation, vouchers remain valid for 24 months from the date of issue.

  • Non-duplication: A voucher cannot be applied more than once, reused, or claimed for the same review more than one time.

3) How to receive your Reviewer Certificate and Voucher

After your review is submitted and confirmed as completed, the editorial office will provide:

  • Reviewer Certificate (PDF), and

  • Voucher confirmation (EUR 10 per completed review), including a reference code or written confirmation and instructions for use.

If you would like your certificate issued to a specific name/affiliation, please ensure your reviewer profile is up to date in OJS.

4) How to use a voucher (after acceptance)

When your manuscript is accepted and enters the APC stage, please provide the following to the editorial office:

  • Manuscript ID,

  • Corresponding author name, and

  • Voucher code(s) (or the official voucher confirmation email).

The editorial office will confirm the discount and issue an updated payment instruction reflecting the reduced APC amount.

5) Best Paper Waiver – 100% APC Discount for Three Outstanding Papers

To encourage excellence and recognize exceptional contributions, IJDRM may award a 100% APC waiver (full discount) to three (3) best scientific papers within a defined selection period.

Eligibility

  • The paper must be accepted for publication in IJDRM within the relevant selection period (e.g., the calendar year or a defined volume).

  • The paper must comply with ethical standards, authorship rules, and journal policies.

  • Papers under unresolved integrity concerns are not eligible until the issue is resolved.

Selection criteria (internationally aligned and transparent)

The selection is based on scholarly quality and contribution, typically considering:

  • originality and significance of the contribution,

  • methodological rigor and transparency,

  • relevance to disaster risk management research and practice,

  • clarity of presentation and quality of evidence,

  • potential academic and/or practical impact.

Selection process

  • A shortlist is prepared from eligible accepted papers.

  • Evaluation is carried out by the Editor-in-Chief and/or an independent committee appointed by the editorial office (e.g., senior editors/editorial board members), with conflict-of-interest safeguards (members do not evaluate papers where they have any conflict).

  • Final decisions are documented internally to ensure traceability and fairness.

Conditions

  • The waiver applies only to the APC and does not include any other external costs (if any).

  • The waiver cannot be converted to cash and cannot be transferred to another journal.

  • IJDRM reserves the right to postpone or withhold the waiver if necessary to protect editorial integrity or if eligibility conditions are not met.

6) General rules (to avoid misunderstandings)

  • Discounts are applied only after acceptance and only to APC.

  • Discounts do not guarantee acceptance and cannot be used to influence editorial handling.

  • Any attempt to misuse discount mechanisms (e.g., false claims, coercion, or manipulation) may result in cancellation of discounts and further editorial action.

Contact

For voucher confirmation, certificate requests, or APC discount questions, please contact: editor@ijdrm.com