Deadline for Applications March 11, 2026 Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based) C Family Type (not applicable for home-based) Family Staff Member / Affiliate Type UNOPS LICA6 Target Start Date 2026-03-16 Terms of Reference UNHCR Zimbabwe and Malawi are now part of the Multi-Country Office (MCO) in Zambia. The overall strategic direction across the three operations is to foster government-led approaches that advance integrated delivery of protection and solutions for displaced populations. Zimbabwe host over 11,000 refugees, asylum-seekers, and others of concern, mainly in Tongogara Camp and its surrounding host communities. Zimbabwe is a signatory to the 1951. UN Refugee Convention, its 1967 Protocol, and the 1969 OAU Refugee Convention. Zimbabwe is current reviewing the 1983 Refugee Act which offers a chance to align national law with international standards and expand protection. Despite constraints, refugees are included in the National Development Strategy (NDS1) and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (20222026). Education remains one of the key strategic areas for UNHCR. The agency aims to strengthen inclusive quality education and support national efforts to integrate forcibly displaced children into the mainstream education system. In line with the strategic priority, UNHCR has been supporting education programmes in Tongogara Refugee Settlement and surrounding host communities, including through expanding access to connected education for refugee and host community learners, improving teaching quality through digital tools, and enhancing student engagement and retention. The programme targets over 5,000 learners from Primary 1 to 7 and aligns with UNHCRs broader education strategy and the Government of Zimbabwes commitment to transforming Tongogara into a service-oriented settlement. While the position will directly report to the Head of National Office, Zimbabwe, the incumbent will work closely with the Senior Operations Officer and Programme Unit at the Multi-Country Office with a dotted technical supervision line to the Education focal point in the MCO. The position will oversee education and related programming implementation and working closely with the Chipinge District and Ministry of Primary and Secondary education on the policy framework, integrated education planning and coordination. Given the integrated nature of interventions in Tongogara Refugee Settlement and the need to coordinate with different stakeholders, the incumbent will also support regular operational programme planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting. The position will also support the implementation of the various projects at field level, ensure well-organized communication and coordination between UNHCR, partners, and government entities and communities, provide regular reporting to various internal and external stakeholders including national education authorities. The Operations Associate (Education) will lead the day-to-day implementation, coordination, and monitoring of education and related interventions including on ProFuturo Connected Education and Primary Impact programmes as well as other duties assigned. The role is critical to ensuring alignment with national education priorities, effective stakeholder engagement, and the sustainability of education interventions for refugee and host community learners. The position will also support overall operational and programme planning, implementation and reporting on various UNHCR interventions and partnerships engaged. Specific duties and responsibilities – Coordinate and monitor implementation of day-to-day education programmes including setting up trainings, delivery plans, progress reports including to national level education authorities etc – Ensuring alignment with the national curricular through monitoring content on the PFF platform, matching content with curricular resources and ensuring coherence of content creation and community of practice – Participate in local humanitarian and development sector working groups to support and ensure refugees issues, needs and capacities are amplified and that refugees are not left behind. – Liaise with external partners like Ministry of Education, District Authorities, UN agencies, Development partners, NGOs and civil society and donors on ongoing programme activities to further inclusion of social services including education. – Provide administrative and operational support across a range of programme activities by fostering linkages and coordination, monitoring and reporting on child protection, GBV, gender, community services, livelihoods/economic inclusion and health, among others, and provide advice on advocating for other actors to ensure that they fully integrate related concerns/needs in their planning and programmes. – Support programme design, planning, resource mobilization, implementation and monitoring of education and other related activities by providing regular reports/updates on programmes, operational activities, achievements and challenges, happenings with implication on refugees … – Perform other related duties as required. Standard Job Description Required Languages , , Desired Languages , , Additional Qualifications Skills Education Certifications Work Experience Other information This position doesn’t require a functional clearance Remote No If you are a former UNHCR international staff member who held a fixed-term or indefinite appointment, you can apply to regular positions in the international professional category as candidate with UNHCR-experience (within 2 years following separation for males and 5 years for females). To apply to vacancies, please create a new account (Sign In on the top left corner >> Create account) or sign into your account, if you have already registered via the external career site. Once successfully registered/signed in, you can start filling in your data and apply for vacancies. If you are former UNHCR locally recruited staff member who held a fixed-term or indefinite appointment, you can apply to regular positions in your staff category as candidate with UNHCR-experience (within 2 years following separation for males and 5 years for females). To apply to vacancies, please create a new account (Sign In on the top left corner >> Create account) or sign into your account, if you have already registered via the external career site. Once successfully registered/signed in, you can start filling in your data and apply for vacancies. If you do not fall under any of the above categories, please use the External Career site for applying to vacancies. Technical notes: Once you fill in your basic personal information (employee ID, birth date, name, email address), Workday will identify you as prior personnel and merge your employee account with your external applicant account. If you were notified about unsuccessful application, please follow the steps described in the message. While you will not see the list of your employee-time applications in your external account, you will be duly notified if any action is required from your side and/or when the recruitment process is completed. In case you would like to update your name, address or phone number or you face any technical difficulties when applying, please write to recruitmentcase@unhcr.org. Please note that UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing or training). Read about how to avoid scams and fraudulent job offers. Please note that applications are only accepted via the online recruitment platform. CVs and/or application requests sent via email will not be answered, reviewed nor considered. 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…