May 1, 2026

B

Family

NOA

National Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-06-01

Assistant Protection Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Assistant Protection Officer reports to the Protection Officer or the Senior Protection Officer. Depending on the size and structure of the Office, the incumbent may have supervisory responsibility for protection staff including community-based protection, registration, resettlement and education. S/he provides functional protection guidance to information management and programme staff on all protection/legal matters and accountabilities. These include: statelessness (in line with the campaign to End Statelessness by 2024), Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) commitments, age, gender, diversity (AGD) and accountability to affected populations (AAP) through community-based protection, Child protection, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response, gender equality, disability inclusion, youth empowerment, psycho-social support and PSEA, registration, asylum/refugee status determination, resettlement, local integration, voluntary repatriation, human rights standards integration, national legislation, judicial engagement, predictable and decisive engagement in situations of internal displacement and engagement in wider mixed movement and climate change/disaster-related displacement responses. S/he supervises protection standards, operational procedures and practices in protection delivery in line with international standards.

The Assistant Protection Officer is expected to coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern (PoC), ensuring that operational responses in all sectors mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards. The incumbent contributes to the design of a comprehensive protection strategy and represents the Organization externally on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor. S/he also ensures that PoC are meaningfully engaged in the decisions that affect them and support programme design and adaptations that are influenced by the concerns, priorities and capacities of them. To achieve this, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern, authorities, protection and assistance partners as well as a broader network of stakeholders who can contribute to enhancing protection.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR's core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties
- Stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment.
- Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct.
- Assist in providing comments on existing and draft legislation related to PoC.
- Provide legal advice and guidance on protection issues to PoC; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
- Conduct eligibility and status determination for PoC in compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles.
- Promote and contribute to measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness.
- Contribute to a country-level child protection plan as part of the protection strategy.
- Contribute to a country-level education plan as part of the protection strategy.
- Provide inputs for the development of protection policies and standards within the AoR.
- Implement and monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
- Manage individual protection cases including those on GBV and child protection. Monitor, and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents.
- Recommend durable solutions for the largest possible number of PoC through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.
- Assess resettlement needs and apply priorities for the resettlement of individuals and groups of refugees and other PoC.
- Contribute to the design, implementation and evaluation of protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners.
- Contribute to and facilitate a programme of results-based advocacy with sectorial and/or cluster partners.
- Contribute to and facilitate effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on populations of concern and their problems.
- Assist capacity-building initiatives for communities and individuals to assert their rights.
- Participate in initiatives to capacitate authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures.
- Intervene with authorities on protection issues.
- Assist the supervisor in deciding priorities for reception, interviewing and counselling for groups or individuals.
- Assist the supervisor in enforcing compliance of staff and implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
- Enforce compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.

- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
- Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P1/NOA - 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Law,

International Law,

Political Sciences
or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified;

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Knowledge of International Refugee and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles

Desirable
Not specified.

Functional Skills
*PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
*PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD)
MG-Project Management
PR-Human Rights Doctrine/Standards
PR-International Humanitarian Law
PR-Assessment of IDPs Status, Rights, Obligation
PR-Climate change and disaster related displacement
CO-Drafting and Documentation
PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) Coordination
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

Operational Context
UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to support States to ensure that everyone forced to flee can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country (www.unhcr.org).

The UNHCR Multi-Country Office for Representation in Zambia, covers Malawi and Zimbabwe national offices, in addition to three field offices/units in Zambia in Solwezi, Kaoma and Kawambwa, and the representational office in Lusaka. UNHCR supports the Governments of the three countries to provide an enabling protection environment that allows asylum seekers, refugees and former refugees to be protected, be self-reliant and achieve durable solutions. All three countries are party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1969 OAU Convention and have adopted a comprehensive refugee response approach envisioned by the New York Declaration of 2016 and the Global Compact on Refugees of 2018, which guide the countries’ refugee and asylum responses. The framework envisages an all-of-society approach with solid investment and support from the international community to meet both immediate life-saving humanitarian needs and long-term solutions through development action.

As of 31 March 2026, the UNHCR Multi-Country Office for Representation in Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi (ZAMCO) oversees 195, 839 forcibly displaced persons across Zambia, Malawi, and Zimbabwe. The population consists of 68% refugees, 22% asylum-seekers, and 10% former refugees, with 66% being women and children. Zambia hosts the largest share at 61% (114,185 individuals), followed by Malawi at 32% (62,494 individuals) and Zimbabwe at 7% (19,160 individuals). The total population includes 6,546 unregistered Mozambican nationals in Zimbabwe, who were jointly profiled by UNHCR and the Government of Zimbabwe in 2016.

In Zambia, UNHCR supports the Government of Zambia to provide an enabling protection environment that allows asylum-seekers, refugees and former refugees to be protected, be self- reliant and achieve durable solutions. This approach integrates economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection to ensure present needs are met without compromising the well-being of future generations. The country's asylum and refugee response are governed by the Refugees Act of 2017, which provides the legal framework for refugee status determination, rights, and obligations of refugees, as well as their access to protection and assistance in Zambia. In addition, Zambia's National Refugee Policy and its Implementation Plan provide a structured approach to refugee management, promoting self-reliance, inclusion in national systems, and durable solutions in line with international and regional commitments.

In 2025, Zambia received a World Bank grant under the IDA 20 Window for Host and Refugee Communities to implementing the Refugee and Host Communities Project to enhance socio-economic opportunities for refugees and host communities. A key focus of the project is harmonizing laws in Zambia to facilitate implementation of the Refugee Policy and to facilitate refugee documentation, access to basic services, and self-reliance. As part of this effort, the project supports the rollout of new national ID cards for refugees across all three refugee-hosting districts, promoting legal recognition and inclusion within national systems.

Nature of Position
The Assistant Protection Officer (NOA) reports to the Associate Protection Officer (P2) and works under the guidance of the Senior Protection Officer (P4). The role involves close coordination with the protection team in Lusaka and across the three field offices/units. The incumbent will also have supervisory responsibilities for junior protection staff.
The Assistant Protection Officer will support the delivery of UNHCR’s protection mandate, including the prevention of and response to protection risks, through engagement with competent government authorities to sustain a favourable protection environment for forcibly displaced persons in Zambia. This includes the provision of protection assistance to refugees and asylum-seekers in Lusaka and other urban centres, with a focus on identifying individuals with specific needs, conducting protection and vulnerability assessments, and recommending tailored interventions in collaboration with government and partners.

Key responsibilities also include contributing to gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response, strengthening child protection efforts, facilitating partner consultations, supporting detention monitoring, and intervening in cases of refoulement, barriers to asylum, or other
protection incidents.

The incumbent will ensure strong engagement with forcibly displaced communities through two-way communication that enables community
members to access timely, accurate information about their rights and services, and to raise concerns or provide feedback. These initiatives will also help identify individuals at heightened risk and strengthen channels for community participation and accountability.

The Assistant Protection Officer will contribute to UNHCR’s efforts to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) and strengthen Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP), including through capacity-building for staff and partners.

Working closely with a range of actors, particularly government agencies and development partners, the incumbent will support the implementation of the 2023 National Refugee Policy. This includes regular engagement with key institutions such as the Office of the Commissioner for Refugees (COR), the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services (MCDSS), the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Health, amongst others. The role will also involve collaboration with local authorities, NGOs, civil society, and refugee communities to help integrate refugee protection into national systems and expand access to social protection mechanisms.

By focusing on sustainable, long-term approaches, the Assistant Protection Officer will help design and implement strategies. Finally, the incumbent will contribute to the implementation of the operation’s multi-year strategy, raise awareness of refugee protection issues, and support work on doctrine and policy in coordination with external stakeholders and under the guidance of the supervisor.

Desired Candidate Profile
The Assistant Protection Officer should have a strong background in protection or related fields, with experience working on issues of safety,
access to justice, and inclusion for vulnerable populations. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a sound understanding of protection risks facing women, children, and marginalised communities, especially where services are limited or social exclusion is higher.
The candidate must demonstrate the ability to support efforts to prevent and respond to gender-based violence (GBV) and child protection risks by working with partners and authorities to strengthen community-based mechanisms, improve referrals to legal and psychosocial services, and ensure that survivors can access safe and appropriate support. Experience working in rural or low-resources settings is a strong asset.
A key aspect of the role is supporting inclusive community engagement, with a focus on strengthening the voice and leadership of women, young people, and other groups at heightened risk. The candidate should therefore have demonstrated experience working with community-based organizations, local leaders, or grassroots networks to identify protection concerns and support locally appropriate solutions. A demonstrated commitment to participation, inclusion, and accountability is essential.
The incumbent will also promote local solutions by helping strengthen access to national services such as health, education, psychosocial support, and social protection. The candidate should have experience collaborating with government departments, local authorities, or service providers to expand access to basic services for vulnerable groups. Knowledge of administrative barriers, documentation challenges, and the importance of civil registration systems is an asset.
Strong organisational, planning, and coordination skills are essential. The candidate should be comfortable contributing to needs assessments, identifying gaps, and helping develop practical and sustainable responses in collaboration with others. Experience in drafting clear reports, analysing protection trends, and contributing to evidence-based planning will be valued.
Familiarity with concepts such as age, gender and diversity (AGD), accountability to affected populations (AAP), and results-based management (RBM) is desirable. However, experience applying participatory, inclusive, or rights-based approaches in other sectors such as health, education, child protection, or social services will also be considered relevant.
The ideal candidate will be proactive, solution-oriented, and able to build and maintain constructive relationships with government counterparts, partners, and affected communities. Strong coordination, and facilitation skills are important, along with an openness to learning and adapting in a dynamic and multi-stakeholder environment.
The candidate must have excellent English communication skills and be an effective and clear communicator orally and in writing in a jargonfree manner. The candidate must have strong teamwork and collaboration skills and must be client and results oriented. The candidate must have a sound understanding of risk-based approaches to work, fraud mitigation and prevention, duty to report suspicions of fraud, as well as documentation of suspected or reported incidents of fraud by clients, colleagues, partners, or third parties.

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English

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

Nature of Position:

Living and Working Conditions:

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CO-Drafting and Documentation, MG-Project Management, PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD), PR-Assessment of IDPs Status, Rights, Obligation, PR-Climate change and disaster related displacement, PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) Coordination, PR-Human Rights Doctrine/Standards, PR-International Humanitarian Law, PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators

Bachelor of Arts: International Law, Bachelor of Arts: Law, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science

Certifications

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Judgement & decision making, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Additional Information

Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for written test and/or oral interview. (Written test may/or may not be part of the selection process).

This position doesn't require a functional clearance