RFAs: The Africa and Middle East Emerald Case Writing Competition

The Africa and Middle East Emerald Case Writing Competition invites academics based in Africa, the Middle East, Türkiye, and Pakistan to submit original business teaching cases focused on emerging markets. The competition offers international publication opportunities, capacity-building in case writing, and a total prize pool of $2,000, with submissions closing on 31 December 2025.

The Africa and Middle East Emerald Case Writing Competition is an academic initiative designed to strengthen business education in emerging economies by encouraging the development of high-quality, regionally relevant teaching cases. The competition supports authors based at higher education institutions in Africa, the Middle East, Türkiye, and Pakistan and promotes real-world, practice-oriented learning materials for business and management education.

Purpose of the Competition

The primary objective of the competition is to expand the availability of high-quality teaching cases that reflect the realities of dynamic and emerging markets. At the same time, the initiative aims to build long-term case-writing capacity among academics in the target regions, enhancing both regional relevance and global visibility of their work.

Who Can Participate

The competition is open to eligible authors who meet all of the following criteria.
• Based at a higher education institution in Africa, the Middle East, Türkiye, or Pakistan
• Interested in developing teaching cases for business and management education
• Able to base their work on real companies and real-world business situations
Both early-career and experienced academics are encouraged to apply.

Eligible Case Study Topics

Submitted cases must focus on developing and emerging markets within Africa, the Middle East, Türkiye, or Pakistan. The cases should reflect authentic business challenges, strategic decisions, or managerial dilemmas faced by real organizations operating in these regions.

Case Study Requirements

All submissions must comply with the following conditions.
• Must be teaching cases, not academic research cases
• Must be based on real situations involving real companies or organizations
• Must not have been previously published or under consideration elsewhere
• Must follow Emerging Market Case Studies (EMCS) author guidelines
• Must include a completed and signed consent to publish release form

Why This Competition Matters

Business education in emerging markets benefits significantly from locally grounded teaching materials. This competition helps bridge the gap between theory and practice by encouraging case studies that reflect regional contexts, constraints, and opportunities. Participants gain the opportunity to contribute to global knowledge while strengthening teaching and learning within their own institutions.

Publication Opportunities and Peer Review

All submitted cases are subject to a formal peer review and revision process conducted by the publisher. Winning entries will be eligible for publication, but prize money is payable only if the submission is successfully published. In some cases, a winning submission may not proceed to publication due to issues identified during review or revision. Non-winning submissions may still be considered for publication in the Scopus-indexed Emerging Market Case Studies (EMCS) collection, and selected authors will be contacted directly.

Prizes and Awards

The competition offers a total prize pool of $2,000.
• $1,000 awarded to the winning submission
• $500 awarded to each of two runners-up
Prize payments are subject to successful publication and compliance with applicable regulations.

Important Note on Sanctions and Payments

Although the publisher operates internationally, it must comply with United Kingdom economic sanctions. This may affect the ability to make payments to authors based in certain countries. However, submissions from all eligible regions remain welcome and will be fully considered for both competition and publication.

How to Submit Your Entry

Applicants must submit their entries through the ScholarOne Manuscripts system under the Emerging Markets Case Studies collection.

1. Prepare the required documents in line with EMCS guidelines.

2. Log in to ScholarOne Manuscripts and select the EMCS collection.

3. Choose “Africa and Middle East 2025” as the competition during submission.

4. Upload all required files before the deadline.

Required Submission Documents

Each entry must include the following components.
• The teaching case study
• A detailed teaching note
• A title page
• A completed and signed consent to publish release form

Key Dates and Timeline

Competition open: Now
Submission deadline: 31 December 2025

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Submitting academic research cases instead of teaching cases
• Using fictional companies or hypothetical scenarios
• Failing to follow EMCS formatting and author guidelines
• Omitting required documents such as the teaching note or consent form

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the Africa and Middle East Emerald Case Writing Competition?
It is a competition encouraging academics to develop and submit teaching cases focused on emerging markets in Africa, the Middle East, Türkiye, and Pakistan.
Who is eligible to apply?
Authors based at higher education institutions in the eligible regions are allowed to submit.
What type of case studies are accepted?
Only original teaching cases based on real companies and real situations are eligible.
Is publication guaranteed for winning entries?
No. Winning submissions must pass peer review and revisions before publication and prize payment.
Can non-winning cases still be published?
Yes. Non-winning submissions may be considered for publication in the EMCS collection.
What is the submission deadline?
All entries must be submitted by 31 December 2025.

Conclusion

The Africa and Middle East Emerald Case Writing Competition provides a valuable platform for academics to showcase regionally grounded business cases on a global stage. By combining international visibility, publication opportunities, and financial incentives, the competition supports the development of impactful teaching materials that reflect the realities of emerging markets.