Protection Associate

August 13, 2026BFamily GS6General Service

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment2026-09-01

Protection Associate

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Protection Associate normally reports to the Protection Officer or the Senior Protection Officer. The incumbent monitors protection standards, operational procedures and practices in protection delivery in line with international standards and provides functional protection support to information management and programme staff.

The Protection Associate is expected to coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern (PoC) and identify opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards in operational responses in all sectors. S/he contributes to designing a comprehensive protection strategy and liaises externally with authorities and partners on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor.

The Protection Associate also ensures that PoC are involved in making decisions that affect them, whether in accessing their rights or in identifying appropriate solutions to their problems. To achieve this, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern, local authorities and protection and assistance partners.

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 advice on protection issues to PoC; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
- Assist in conducting eligibility and status determination for PoC.
- 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.
- 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.
- Assist in identifying durable solutions for the largest possible number of PoC through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.
- Contribute to the design, implementation and evaluation of protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners.
- Facilitate effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on PoC and their problems.
- Participate in initiatives to capacitate authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures.
- Assist the supervisor in prioritizing PoC for interview, counselling and propose protection support for individual cases.
- Assist the supervisor with enforcing compliance of local implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
- Assit the supervisor with enforcing compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.
- Submit individual payments request for PoC for approval.

- 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

Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G6 - 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
Not applicable

Certificates and/or Licenses
International Law, Political Science
or other related field
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified

Desirable
Protection Learning Programme

Functional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy
PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
(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 as 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 December 2025, the UNHCR Multi-Country Office for Representation in Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi (ZAMCO) oversees 193,721 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 59% (114,355 individuals), followed by Malawi at 31% (60,500 individuals) and Zimbabwe at 10% (18,866 individuals).
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 Protection Associate position is based in Lusaka, and reports to the Associate Protection Officer (P2) under the overall supervision of the Senior Protection Officer (P4) and works in close collaboration with the protection team in Lusaka as well as colleagues in the three field locations in Zambia, and the two national offices in Malawi and Zimbabwe.
The position supports the implementation of UNHCR’s protection mandate across Zambia, Malawi, and Zimbabwe through regular engagement with government counterparts, partners, and communities to help maintain and strengthen a conducive protection environment for forcibly displaced and stateless persons. The Protection Associate will play a pivotal role in supporting the implementation of UNHCR’s vision for a government-led, solutions-oriented national asylum and refugee protection system in Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe.
The role involves providing protection support primarily in Lusaka and other urban settings, with particular attention to identifying individuals with specific needs, carrying out protection and vulnerability assessments, and proposing appropriate follow-up actions in coordination with relevant stakeholders. The Protection Associate will assist in advancing the operationalization of the National Refugee Policy, facilitating legal, policy, and process reforms, and advocating for the integration of displaced populations into Zambia’s national services.
Core functions include contributing to the prevention of and response to gender-based violence, reinforcing child protection interventions, facilitating structured engagement with partners, supporting detention monitoring activities, and responding to incidents such as refoulement, access-to-asylum barriers, and other urgent protection concerns.
A central element of the role is promoting meaningful two-way communication with affected communities to ensure that refugees and asylum-seekers have access to reliable information on their rights and available services, and that they can safely raise concerns and provide feedback. These efforts will also assist in identifying heightened protection risks and strengthening community participation in protection responses. Additionally, the Protection Associate will actively support community-based protection initiatives, with a particular focus on vulnerable groups, including women, children and persons with disabilities. The incumbent will work to mitigate protection risks and promote community participation in identifying and addressing protection concerns, aligned with UNHCR’s Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) approach.
The incumbent will also contribute to strengthening Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) within the operation, including through engagement and capacity-building with partners and frontline actors.
By adopting a longer-term and solutions-oriented approach, the Protection Associate will support initiatives that enhance self-reliance, resilience, including exploring durable solutions such as local integration, voluntary repatriation, and third-country solutions, and inclusion of forcibly displaced persons in national systems and services. This includes promoting linkages between protection interventions and access to health, education, legal assistance, civil documentation, and social protection mechanisms.
The Protection Associate will also monitor the implementation of UNHCR’s multi-year strategy, monitoring that activities support the achievement of long-term goals in improving protection, self-reliance, and the well-being of forcibly displaced persons in Zambia.
Additionally, the Protection Associate will contribute to advocacy for the local integration of refugees, support government capacity-building efforts in GBV, Child Protection, PSEA processes and contribute to data collection and analysis to support evidence-based decision-making. The incumbent will also engage in monitoring and reporting on asylum capacity development activities, ensuring that progress towards strengthening national asylum systems is tracked and shared with relevant stakeholders.

Desired Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate will have solid experience in protection, human rights, social services, or related fields, with demonstrated exposure to issues concerning safety, access to justice, and inclusion of vulnerable populations. A strong understanding of the protection risks faced by women, children, and marginalised groups, particularly in environments with limited services or high levels of social exclusion, is essential.
The candidate should be able to contribute to prevention and response efforts related to gender-based violence and child protection by working collaboratively with authorities and partners to strengthen community-based systems, referral pathways, and access to appropriate legal, psychosocial, and protection support. Experience working in remote, rural, or resource-constrained environments is highly desirable.
Experience in community engagement is critical. The candidate should be comfortable working with community structures, local leaders, and grassroots organisations to identify protection concerns and support locally relevant responses. A demonstrated commitment to participation, inclusion, and accountability in programme delivery is required.
The incumbent should also be able to support initiatives that facilitate access to national services such as healthcare, education, psychosocial services, documentation, and social protection. Experience working with government departments, service providers, or civil society to address administrative and documentation barriers is essential.
Strong planning, coordination, and analytical skills are essential, as is the ability to work effectively in a multi-stakeholder and evolving operational context. The candidate should be able to contribute to assessments, identify service gaps, analyse protection trends, and support the development of practical responses based on evidence and field observations. Experience drafting concise reports and contributing to data-informed programming will be valued. Familiarity with tools used for protection monitoring, service mapping, or case tracking is essential.
Knowledge of Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD), Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP), and Results-Based Management (RBM) principles is desirable. However, candidates with experience applying inclusive, participatory, or rights-based approaches in sectors such as health, education, child protection, or social welfare will also be well suited to the role.
The successful candidate will be proactive, adaptable, and solution-driven, with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with government counterparts, partners, and communities.
Excellent communication skills in English, both written and oral, are essential, with the ability to communicate clearly and accessibly without excessive jargon. The candidate should demonstrate strong teamwork, professionalism, and a results-oriented mindset. A good understanding of risk management, fraud prevention, and the obligation to report and document suspected misconduct by any party is also necessary.

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

Nature of Position:

Living and Working Conditions:

 

Additional Qualifications

Skills

IT-Computer Literacy, PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators, PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework

Certifications

International Law - Other, Political Science - Other

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Judgement & decision making, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational 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.This position doesn't require a functional clearance

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