Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

C

Family

Internship

2025-03-03

February 26, 2025

Organizational 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).

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.

Zambia has adopted a comprehensive refugee response approach, as outlined in the New York Declaration (2016) and the Global Compact on Refugees (2018), which guide the country’s refugee and asylum response. This framework promotes an all-of-society approach, emphasizing strong investment and international support to address both immediate humanitarian needs and long-term socio-economic development solutions for forcibly displaced and local host communities. In fulfilling its mandate, UNHCR proactively pursues and advocates for sustainable responses that not only meet urgent needs but also foster long-term benefits, in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This approach integrates economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection to ensure present needs are met without compromising the well-being of future generations.

Zambia is a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, reaffirming its commitment to international refugee protection standards. 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.

The vast majority live in the three refugee settlements, namely Mayukwayukwa (26,804), Meheba (43,498), Mantapala (9,152), and some (27,316) have settled in urban locations. The Government of the republic of Zambia (GRZ) coordinates asylum and refugee management through the office of the Commissioner for Refugees (COR) in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security and in close collaboration with other government departments and the inter- governmental steering committee established for this purpose, with the direct support of UNHCR.

UNHCR in Zambia has three field offices/units (one in Solwezi, one in Kawambwa, one in Kaoma) and a Representational Office in Lusaka.

The position
The ideal candidate will demonstrate superior written and verbal communication skills in English and have an interest in educational research, teaching or education administration and community empowerment. The Education Intern will closely work with Education Coordinator of Meheba Refugee Settlement, primary and secondary school’s headmasters and teachers, government agencies, private sector as well as other relevant stakeholders to enhance inclusion of forcibly displaced persons in national education system and local integration with host community members. The incumbent will support the collaboration with other UNHCR cross cutting areas such as protection, cash, partnerships, research and analytics, GBV, solutions, complementary pathways and more. To document good practices, results and to generate knowledge, the Education Intern will work closely with the supervisor to ensure up-to-date information on access to education by asylum seekers, refugees, and former refugees are collected. S/he will assist in mobilizing refugees of different age, gender and background and to ensure that all stakeholders well understand the educational opportunities to refugees, asylum seekers and former refugees in Zambia.

Duties and responsibilities
– Assist in monitoring and supporting all existing formal and informal education programs, including implementing partner and community-based schools, and informal classes.
– Regularly collect, provide update and share information related to education, utilizing data collection to identify gaps and make recommendations as required.
– Assist in the collection, analysis and reporting of core education data sets and maintenance of up-to-date Education Management Information System (EMIS)
– Provide regular reports on educational activities, achievements and challenges.
– Perform specific administrative operational/control tasks for project/programme activities as assigned.
– Undertake protection individual counselling for refugees utilising existing tools and standard operating procedures in place.
– Represent UNHCR in monitoring of education projects.
– Foster inter-sectoral linkages and coordination with child protection, GBV, gender, community services, livelihoods/economic inclusion and health, among others.
– Support the training of UNHCR staff, sister UN agency staff, NGOs, and Ministry of Education officials on refugee education priorities and identified topics.
– Ensure active exchange of information and that best practices are identified, documented and disseminated.
– Prepare and support the drafting of education input in key internal and external documents and reports.
– Prepare documents and reports for clearance by the supervisor.
– Perform other related duties as required.

Desirable qualifications and skills
– Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
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– Ability to guide cooperatives on the best way to manage and grow their agricultural cooperatives.Knowledge of the international legal framework governing refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced and stateless persons.Awareness of the importance of preventing fraud and ways to mitigate risks.
– Ability to identify and propose innovations, including public/private partnerships, to increase economic independence and self-reliance by forcibly displaced populations.
– Ability to effectively communicate to groups of different education and experience levels.

Standard Job Description

Required Languages

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,

Desired Languages

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,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

Certifications

Other information

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance

Home-Based

No

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements