Conflicts of Interest

1. Policy Statement

Buletin Ilmiah Nagari Membangun is committed to maintaining transparency, impartiality, accountability, and integrity throughout the scholarly publication process.

The journal requires authors, reviewers, editors, and other individuals involved in editorial decisions to identify and disclose any interests or relationships that could influence, or reasonably be perceived to influence, their professional judgment.

A conflict of interest, also referred to as a competing interest, does not necessarily indicate misconduct or invalidate scholarly work. However, undisclosed or improperly managed conflicts may undermine confidence in research findings, peer-review assessments, and editorial decisions.

This policy is informed by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Core Practices, particularly the principles concerning conflicts of interest, peer review, editorial independence, and publication integrity.

The journal seeks to ensure that potential conflicts are disclosed, assessed, and managed appropriately rather than assuming that every disclosed interest requires exclusion from publication.

2. Definition of Conflicts of Interest

A conflict of interest exists when a financial, professional, institutional, personal, academic, or other interest could influence, or could reasonably be perceived to influence, an individual's responsibilities in the research and publication process.

Conflicts of interest may be:

Actual: An existing interest directly affects, or has the potential to affect, an individual's judgment or responsibilities.
Potential: An interest or relationship may develop into a conflict under particular circumstances.
Perceived: A reasonable observer might question the individual's independence or objectivity because of an existing relationship or interest.

The journal considers both financial and nonfinancial interests when assessing potential conflicts.

The existence of a conflict does not automatically establish unethical conduct. The principal concern is whether the interest has been disclosed and managed in a manner that protects the integrity of the scholarly record.

3. Types of Conflicts of Interest

3.1 Financial Conflicts of Interest

Financial conflicts may include:

Research grants or project funding.
Consultancy payments or professional fees.
Employment or contractual relationships.
Honoraria or other financial compensation.
Ownership interests in organizations or businesses.
Patents, royalties, or other intellectual property interests.
Financial support from organizations that may benefit from the findings.
Other financial relationships relevant to the submitted work.

Financial support does not automatically create an unacceptable conflict. However, relationships that may affect the interpretation or reporting of results must be disclosed.

3.2 Nonfinancial Conflicts of Interest

Nonfinancial conflicts may include:

Personal or family relationships.
Close professional collaborations.
Academic rivalry or professional competition.
Institutional affiliations or supervisory relationships.
Political, ideological, or organizational commitments relevant to the work.
Membership in organizations with a direct interest in the findings.
Prior involvement in the manuscript or research project.
Personal interests that could affect independent judgment.

The journal recognizes that nonfinancial conflicts can be as significant as financial conflicts when they influence editorial or scholarly decisions.

3.3 Institutional Conflicts of Interest

Institutional conflicts may arise when authors, reviewers, or editors have relationships with organizations that fund, supervise, implement, evaluate, or benefit from the activities described in a manuscript.

Such organizations may include universities, research institutions, government agencies, private companies, nonprofit organizations, community organizations, and development partners.

Institutional affiliation alone does not automatically disqualify an individual from participation. The relevance and significance of the relationship must be assessed in context.

4. Responsibilities of Authors

All authors are responsible for disclosing interests and relationships relevant to their submitted manuscript.

Authors should disclose:

Financial support received for the research or community engagement activities.
Relevant relationships with funding organizations or sponsors.
Employment, consultancy, or professional affiliations that could influence the work.
Personal or institutional relationships that could affect the interpretation of findings.
Any other interests that readers could reasonably consider relevant to the manuscript.

Authors must ensure that their disclosures are accurate and complete at the time of submission.

If a new conflict emerges during editorial review or after publication, the authors should inform the journal promptly.

The corresponding author is responsible for coordinating the collection and submission of conflict-of-interest information from all co-authors.

However, each author remains individually responsible for the accuracy of their own declaration.

5. Conflicts of Interest in Community Engagement Activities

Because Buletin Ilmiah Nagari Membangun publishes scholarly work related to community engagement and development, conflicts of interest may arise from relationships among academic institutions, funding bodies, local governments, community organizations, and project beneficiaries.

Authors should disclose relevant interests involving:

Organizations that funded or commissioned the community engagement activity.
Government agencies or institutions involved in project implementation.
Community organizations or local partners that may benefit from favorable findings.
Companies or suppliers whose products, technologies, or services were evaluated or promoted.
Individuals or institutions responsible for assessing the success of a funded program.
Professional or institutional relationships that may affect how project outcomes are presented.

For example, when authors evaluate a community development program funded by an organization with which they have a financial or professional relationship, the relationship should be disclosed when relevant.

The journal expects authors to report community engagement outcomes accurately, including limitations, unsuccessful interventions, and findings that may not favor a funding organization or project partner.

The involvement of a community partner or funding body must not be concealed when that involvement is material to understanding the work.

6. Funding Disclosure

Authors must provide accurate information about funding sources and financial support relevant to the submitted manuscript.

Where applicable, a funding statement should identify:

The name of the funding organization.
The grant or project identification number, if available.
The nature of the financial support.
The funder's role in the design, implementation, analysis, reporting, or publication of the work, where relevant.

Authors should distinguish between financial support and other forms of institutional or logistical assistance.

When the work received no specific funding, authors should provide an appropriate statement reflecting that circumstance.

Example — Funded Work

This community engagement activity was supported by [Funding Organization] under Grant Number [Grant Number]. The funding organization [describe its role, if any] in the design, implementation, evaluation, and reporting of the activity.

Example — No Specific Funding

The authors declare that this work received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Funding disclosure does not replace the requirement to declare other relevant conflicts of interest.

7. Conflict-of-Interest Declaration by Authors

Authors should provide a conflict-of-interest declaration as part of their manuscript submission.

When no relevant conflict exists, authors may use the following statement:

No Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no financial or nonfinancial conflicts of interest relevant to this manuscript.

When a relevant conflict exists, authors should describe it clearly.

Conflict of Interest Disclosed

The authors declare the following potential conflicts of interest: [describe the relevant financial, institutional, professional, or personal relationships].

Disclosures should be sufficiently specific to allow the editorial team and readers to understand the nature of the relationship.

A declaration that no conflicts exist must reflect a genuine assessment by all authors.

8. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers must assess manuscripts independently, objectively, and fairly.

Before accepting a review invitation, reviewers should identify any circumstances that could compromise their impartiality.

Potential reviewer conflicts include:

Recent or ongoing research collaboration with an author.
Close personal or family relationships.
Direct academic or professional competition.
A financial interest in the findings.
Institutional relationships that could materially influence judgment.
Prior involvement in preparing the manuscript.
Other circumstances that may create bias or the appearance of bias.

Reviewers must inform the editorial office of any relevant conflict before proceeding with the review.

The journal may decide to appoint another reviewer or take other appropriate measures.

Reviewers must not use confidential manuscript information for personal, professional, or financial advantage.

Where a conflict becomes apparent after a reviewer has accepted an invitation, the reviewer must notify the journal promptly.

9. Responsibilities of Editors

Editors must make decisions based on the scholarly quality, relevance, ethical compliance, and integrity of submitted manuscripts.

Editorial decisions must not be influenced by personal interests, institutional pressure, financial relationships, or inappropriate external interference.

Editors must disclose and appropriately manage conflicts involving:

Personal or family relationships with authors.
Recent or ongoing collaboration with authors.
Direct involvement in the research or community engagement activity.
Financial or professional interests related to the manuscript.
Institutional or supervisory relationships that could compromise impartiality.
Personal disputes or competitive relationships.
Any other circumstances that may undermine independent editorial judgment.

An editor with a material conflict of interest should not be responsible for the substantive evaluation or final decision concerning the affected manuscript.

Where appropriate, the manuscript should be assigned to another qualified editor who is free from the relevant conflict.

10. Manuscripts Submitted by Editors or Editorial Board Members

Manuscripts submitted by the Editor-in-Chief, editors, editorial board members, or other individuals associated with the journal must be subject to appropriate editorial and peer-review standards.

Such manuscripts must not receive preferential treatment.

The submitting editor or editorial board member must not:

Select reviewers for their own manuscript.
Access confidential reviewer identities or reports beyond the access ordinarily granted to authors.
Influence the editorial assessment of their submission.
Participate in the final editorial decision concerning their manuscript.

The manuscript should be handled by an appropriately independent editor.

Editorial independence and confidentiality must be maintained throughout the process.

11. Conflicts Involving the Publisher and Funding Organizations

The publisher, Lembaga Penelitian dan Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat (LPPM), Universitas Andalas, has an important role in supporting the journal's operation and governance.

However, decisions concerning manuscript acceptance, rejection, peer review, correction, or retraction must be based on scholarly and ethical considerations.

Financial support, institutional affiliation, sponsorship, or the professional standing of an author must not determine editorial outcomes.

The journal should protect editorial decisions from inappropriate influence by sponsors, funding organizations, advertisers, institutional representatives, or other external parties.

Where a potential institutional conflict arises, the journal should arrange an appropriately independent editorial assessment.

12. Identification and Management of Conflicts of Interest

The journal may identify potential conflicts through author declarations, reviewer disclosures, editorial assessment, institutional information, or credible reports from third parties.

When a potential conflict is identified, the journal will consider:

The nature of the interest or relationship.
Its relevance to the manuscript or editorial decision.
The likelihood that it could influence professional judgment.
Whether the interest has been adequately disclosed.
Whether the conflict can be managed without compromising the integrity of the process.

Possible management measures include:

Requesting a more complete disclosure.
Publishing an appropriate conflict-of-interest statement.
Assigning a different reviewer or editor.
Seeking an additional independent assessment.
Excluding a conflicted individual from a particular decision.
Requesting clarification about the role of a funder or sponsor.
Taking further editorial action when a serious undisclosed conflict is identified.

Disclosure alone may not be sufficient when the conflict is substantial and cannot be managed effectively.

13. Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest

Failure to disclose a relevant conflict may constitute a breach of the journal's publication policies.

When an undisclosed conflict is identified, the journal will assess its significance and potential impact on the manuscript, peer-review process, editorial decision, or published findings.

The journal may request an explanation and supporting documentation from the individuals concerned.

Depending on the circumstances, appropriate actions may include:

Requiring an updated conflict-of-interest declaration.
Reassigning a manuscript to an independent editor.
Obtaining an additional independent review.
Correcting a published conflict-of-interest statement.
Investigating possible editorial or peer-review manipulation.
Referring serious concerns to an appropriate institution.
Taking corrective publication action where justified.

The journal will not automatically retract an article solely because a previously undisclosed interest is identified. The appropriate response will depend on the seriousness of the omission and its implications for the published record.

Suspected deliberate concealment or manipulation may be addressed under the journal's Allegations of Misconduct policy.

14. Conflicts Identified After Publication

Authors, readers, reviewers, or other stakeholders may report potential conflicts of interest discovered after an article has been published.

The journal will assess the information and determine whether the published disclosure requires correction or whether a broader investigation is necessary.

When appropriate, the journal may publish a correction that identifies the previously undisclosed relationship.

If the concern raises substantial doubts about the reliability or integrity of the article, the journal may consider further action in accordance with its Post-Publication Discussions and Corrections policy and relevant COPE guidance.

The journal will seek to preserve the transparency and integrity of the scholarly record.

15. Confidentiality and Fair Treatment

Information about potential conflicts will be handled with appropriate confidentiality during editorial assessment.

The journal will disclose relevant information publicly when necessary to provide transparency about published work.

Individuals will be given a reasonable opportunity to clarify or respond to concerns about their interests or relationships.

The journal will distinguish between the existence of a disclosed conflict, an unintentional omission, and deliberate concealment or misconduct.

Decisions will be proportionate to the evidence and circumstances.

16. Policy Compliance and Review

Authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial board members are expected to comply with this policy.

The journal should periodically review its conflict-of-interest procedures to ensure that they remain effective and consistent with recognized publication ethics principles.

Where necessary, the journal may revise its submission forms, reviewer instructions, editorial procedures, and publication policies to improve transparency and accountability.