Associate Protection Officer

Volunteering Legal

Overview

Support the implementation of the JICA-funded project for forcibly displaced persons in Zambia.

You have:

• Support government counterparts in strengthening refugee reception and registration procedures for better efficiency and protection outcomes.
• Conduct field missions to districts and refugee-hosting areas to identify operational challenges and implement agreed actions.
• Organize and deliver training for government officials on relevant procedures and standards.
• Monitor implementation of activities and propose solutions to identified gaps and risks.
• Support data collection and analysis for project activities and donor reporting.
• Facilitate stakeholder engagement to support policy and programmatic priorities.
• Contribute to community engagement activities and incorporate the needs of affected populations.
• Participate in ongoing reflection activities to assess voluntary action performance.

Contract

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The UN Volunteer will support the implementation of a JICA-funded project, “Enhancing Protection and Solutions for Forcibly Displaced Persons in Zambia,” which aims to strengthen Zambia’s asylum system and advance inclusive, government-led responses to forced displacement.

Zambia hosts more than 114,000 asylum-seekers, refugees, and former refugees, while continuing to receive new arrivals, particularly from within the region. This has placed increasing pressure on the national systems responsible for reception, registration, documentation, and refugee status determination. Capacity constraints across government institutions have contributed to delays in processing, gaps in documentation, and increased protection risks, particularly for women, children, and other vulnerable groups. At the same time, evolving approaches to migration management and border control have created additional challenges in ensuring timely and ensured access to asylum procedures and legal protection.

In parallel, the Government of Zambia is advancing an ambitious policy and development agenda focused on refugee inclusion, aligned with the Global Compact on Refugees and Zambia’s National Refugee Policy. This includes efforts to integrate forcibly displaced persons into national systems such as education, health, and social protection, and to promote sustainable, locally led solutions through a whole-of-government approach. Delivering on these commitments requires strengthened coordination across national and sub-national authorities, improved operational systems, and enhanced capacity of frontline actors.

Within this context, the project supports the Office of the Commissioner for Refugees (COR) and other relevant line ministries to strengthen asylum procedures, improve access to legal protection and services, and enhance coordination across stakeholders. Key areas of support include improving the efficiency and quality of registration and case processing, strengthening capacity at district level, supporting access to justice and legal assistance, and facilitating dialogue and engagement across government, civil society, and development partners.

The UN Volunteer will contribute to these efforts by supporting a range of operational, coordination, and capacity development activities. This includes working closely with government counterparts and partners at both national and field levels, supporting implementation of project activities, facilitating stakeholder engagement, and contributing to analysis and reporting. The assignment combines field-based support with analytical and coordination functions, offering an opportunity to contribute to both immediate improvements in service delivery and longer-term systems strengthening.

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Protection Officer, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Support government counterparts and partners in strengthening procedures related to refugee reception, registration, documentation, and refugee status determination with a focus on improving efficiency, consistency, and protection outcomes. • Where budget allows, contribute to field-based activities, including missions to districts and refugee-hosting areas, to support implementation, identify operational challenges, and follow up on agreed actions. • Assist in the organization and delivery of trainings, workshops, and on-the-job support for government officials and partners on relevant procedures and standards. • Support coordination with government institutions, civil society, and other stakeholders to strengthen collaboration, referral pathways, and access to services. • Monitor implementation of activities and help identify gaps, risks, and opportunities for improvement, proposing practical solutions where needed. • Support data collection, analysis, and reporting on project activities, including preparation of briefings, updates, and inputs to donor reporting. • Assist in facilitating dialogue and engagement with stakeholders to support implementation of policy and programmatic priorities. • Contribute to community engagement activities to ensure that interventions are informed by the perspectives and needs of affected populations. • Perform other related tasks as required to support project implementation.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading rel-evant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities; • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Integrity • Respect for diversity

Refugee protection, internal displacement, human rights or international humanitarian law. Good knowledge of International Refugee and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles is an added advantage.

Zambia is a land-linked, resource-rich country with sparsely populated land in the centre of Southern Africa. It shares its border with eight countries (Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe) that serve as an expanded market for its goods.

Lusaka is the capital of the Republic of Zambia. The climate is sunny and temperate, but it can be very cold during few months, with freezing temperature at times especially during the night. It is therefore advisable to bring warm clothing and foresee using heaters and other heating options when necessary. As the commercial and cultural centre of Zambia, Lusaka has seen rapid development in recent decades, with reasonable transportation connections and widely spoken English making the city highly attractive to vacationers and experts alike. Unemployment and poverty are issues in the city, and beyond. Key industries for the region and Zambia as a whole, include mining, agriculture, and tourism. Like most Southern African cities, life in Lusaka will require some adjustments for a person moving from outside the region, but the potential rewards and opportunities for experiences are well worth the effort.

Lusaka hosts several international organization and embassies/diplomatic missions, therefore there is a very large community of expatriates from around the world. Housing is most of the time readily available and of good standard options are available. Most foodstuffs, beverages, household goods, furniture, and clothing, mostly imported from South Africa, Europe, and China while some ranges of local brands are available at a competitive price to imports. Meat, fish, fresh fruits, and vegetables are reasonably priced and abundantly available.

The basic infrastructures roads, utilities, and telecommunications are of reasonable standard, although the city experiences power outages from time to time. Medical facilities are still largely inadequate, although several private clinics and hospitals provide reasonably good routine care. Several restaurants around the city serve local or international cuisine and there are numerous social and sports facilities (fitness, tennis, swimming, riding, golf, etc.) in the major hotels or in different establishments around the city. There are no major or special security concerns within Lusaka city limits. For more information, please visit http://zambiatourism.com.

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Potential interview questions

Added 1 month ago - Updated 26 days ago - Source: unv.org