Protection and Solutions Intern

Beschreibung:

Deadline for ApplicationsMay 28, 2026

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)B

Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
Family

Staff Member / Affiliate Type
Internship

Target Start Date2026-05-11

Terms of ReferenceOrganizational context
UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate 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 ensure that everyone 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 Zambia Multi-Country Office covers Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe. All three countries are party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1969 OAU Convention. The MCO prioritizes protection, inclusion in national systems, and data-driven planning.
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 envisioned by the New York Declaration of 2016 and the Global Compact on refugees of 2018, which guide the country's refugee and asylum response. 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.
The Government of Zambia (GRZ) coordinates the asylum and refugee management through the Office of the Commissioner for Refugees (COR) 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 line with its statutory responsibilities monitors the implementation of the 1951 Convention and promotes long-term solutions for refugees and former refugees through progressive changes to the policies and practices that can improve the protection environment and effectively achieve inclusion in national plans/services, and greater self-reliance. UNHCR provides technical support and guidance to the Government on policy formulation, asylum and refugee management matters, and the identification of solutions.

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.

The majority originate from the Democratic Republic of Congo (65%), with Burundi contributing 16% and other countries 19%. Key hosting locations include Dzaleka in Malawi (62,029), followed by Meheba in Zambia (48,090), and Mayukwayukwa in Zambia (27,392), as well as urban centers such as Lusaka (23,664).

The intern will be placed in Lusaka in the Zambia Multi-Country Office, in the Protection Unit. The internship offers a valuable opportunity for practical learning and professional development within an international protection context. The intern will gain hands-on experience supporting UNHCR's work on refugee protection, inclusion in national systems, and coordination with government and partners. Through this exposure, the intern will develop skills in policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, data handling, and programme support, while strengthening their understanding of international refugee law and protection principles. The internship also provides an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to ongoing operations, while building a strong foundation for a career in humanitarian or development work.

The position
The intern will support the Protection Unit in advancing key protection priorities, with a particular focus on law and policy, access to justice, statelessness, and legal integration. The role sits at the intersection of policy development and operational implementation, contributing to ongoing engagement with government counterparts, partners, and other stakeholders.
The intern will provide analytical, drafting, and coordination support across multiple workstreams. This includes tracking follow-up actions, supporting the development of legal and policy inputs, and contributing to internal and external reporting. The position also involves supporting the preparation of meetings, workshops, and consultations, as well as maintaining effective communication and coordination across teams.
The role requires a high degree of organisation, initiative, and attention to detail, as well as the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment. It offers exposure to protection policy processes and stakeholder engagement in a complex operational context.

Duties and responsibilities
* Support coordination and follow-up of protection activities across assigned workstreams
* Monitor progress against agreed actions, timelines, and commitments
* Draft correspondence, briefing notes, summaries, and internal reports
* Support preparation and documentation of meetings, workshops, and consultations
* Review and summarise legal, policy, and programme documents
* Contribute to internal reporting processes (including weekly and annual reporting)
* Support engagement with government counterparts, partners, and other stakeholders
* Maintain organised records, contact lists, and document management systems
* Provide administrative and coordination support to the Protection Unit as required
Minimum qualifications required
In order to be considered for an internship, candidates must meet the following eligibility criteria:
* Be either a recent graduate (having completed their studies within two years of applying) or a current student in a graduate/undergraduate school programme from a university or higher education facility accredited by IAU/UNESCO ; and
* Have completed at least two years of undergraduate studies in a field relevant or of interest to the work of UNHCR .
* not have exhausted the maximum cumulative internship period with UNHCR, including any prior internships (8 months for full-time and 12 months for part-time)

Desirable qualifications and skills
* First Required Language is English at B2 level
* University degree (or ongoing studies) in law, international relations, public policy, or a related field
* Strong written communication and drafting skills
* Excellent organisational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks
* Ability to work independently and follow up proactively
* Strong attention to detail and analytical skills
* Familiarity with refugee protection, human rights, or development contexts is an asset
* Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively in a team

Conditions
It is a full-time role with working hours starting from 8 am to 5 pm, Monday to Thursday and 8 am to 1:30pm Friday (37,5 hours per week). The successful candidate will be assigned to support the team in Lusaka, Zambia.
Allowance: Interns who do not receive financial support from an outside party will receive an allowance to partially help to cover the cost of food, local transportation and living expenses. The intern allowance will be as per the requirement at the duty station per AI #53-57 FLTA, which is 70% of the monthly net salary of the GS level 3 step 1 (amounting to 26,484.16 ZMW, which is $971 per month).
Travel: Unless provided or paid by external sponsoring entities, UNHCR reimburses interns engaged from a location outside of the country of the duty station for the ticket costs of their outward and return travel to/from the duty station by the most economical route available on economy class, irrespective of the duration of the journey. Reimbursement shall be limited to the authorized outward and return travel between the intern's country of residence and the intern's duty station, or actual route of travel, whichever is lower.
Before travel is undertaken, the selected intern must obtain authorization in writing from the hiring office. Such authorization must include the approved cost of the ticket.
Internships normally last two to six months with the possibility of extension up to eight months for full-time internships and twelve months for part-time internships.

How to apply
Interested applicants should submit their application through www.unhcr.org/careers.html click on vacancies.

Obligations
Acquiring and renewing current visas, residence permits including all associated costs, obtaining medical certification and compliance with taxation requirements (if applicable), are the responsibility of the intern.
The selected candidate will need to provide UNHCR with a proof of health insurance coverage applicable to the assigned internship location and a certificate of good health from a qualified medical practitioner certifying their fitness for work and travel. In the event the selected candidate is not able to produce the required certificates, they will not be admitted to the Internship Programme.

If you are a person with a disability and you expect you may face challenges during the recruitment process, you can indicate it in your application form.
There are options to select any health conditions you may have and outline any necessary adjustments related to disabilities during the recruitment phases. Providing this information is optional. It will be treated as strictly confidential and used only for the purpose of finding out how to better assist you during the recruitment process.
Adjustments for candidates with disabilities will be provided as best as possible and as needed upon request.
All candidates will be assessed based on meeting the requirements for each vacancy in relation to experience, skills, and education.
The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing or training.
We welcome applications from candidates with a refugee or stateless background.

Standard Job Description

Required Languages

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Desired Languages
English
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Additional Qualifications

Skills
Education
Certifications

Work Experience

Other informationProtection and Solutions Intern is paid by UNHCR. This Internship is for a period of 6 months and will be open to candidates' nationals of other countries.This position doesn't require a functional clearance

RemoteNo