UNHCR Zambia - ZAMCO

02/10/2026

105 refugee graduates. Skills to contribute. Futures full of possibility. 🎓

Today, 105 refugees graduated from Cavendish University at a ceremony held at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka.
Among them were two students who earned distinctions—one in Computing and one in Development Studies.

The best-performing Bachelor of Laws student was also a refugee.
Congratulating the graduates, the UNHCR Zambia Multi-Country Office Representative, Ms Helen Mebrahtu, highlighted why including refugees in national systems, such as education, matters: when people can develop their talents, their skills can benefit society as a whole.
These achievements send a powerful message: displacement should never mean the end of ambition. Access to education gives talent the opportunity to flourish.
Congratulations to every graduate! Your achievements deserve to be celebrated. 👏

01/10/2026

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29/09/2026

https://x.com/RwandainAddis/status/2104871178368106518https://x.com/RwandainAddis/status/2104871178368106518

28/09/2026

⚡️ When the lights come on, new possibilities emerge. 💡🇿🇲

Zambia has renewed its commitment to ensuring that refugees and their host communities are included in the country’s development journey. 🤝

At the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) offices in Lusaka, the Office of the Commissioner for Refugees, REA and UNHCR renewed their Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding and signed the Acceptance Agreement for the Meheba Grid Extension Project.

“Today is, of course, about signing those agreements. But more importantly, it is about what these agreements make possible in people’s lives,” said Ms. Helen Mebrahtu, UNHCR Representative a.i. for Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The partnership is already delivering results. Between 2023 and 2025, the Meheba electrification project connected more than 300 households, businesses and public institutions to the national grid. 🔌

The first phase included more than 28 km of 33kV overhead line and nearly 11 km of distribution network, representing an investment of more than ZMW 16.2 million. 📍⚡️

For families who have lived for years without reliable electricity, access to power can transform daily life — enabling children to study after dark 📚, health centres to provide safer services 🏥, businesses to operate longer 🏪 and young people to access technology, information and digital learning 💻.

Building on Meheba’s progress, the renewed partnership will explore electrification opportunities in Mayukwayukwa, Mantapala and surrounding host communities. With additional support from the World Bank, further grid extensions are expected to deliver approximately 4,000 new connections. 🌍🔌

REA Chief Executive Officer Eng. Alex Mbumba emphasized that success will be measured by tangible improvements in schools, health facilities, businesses and households. Planned activities include feasibility studies, community engagement, resource mobilization and measures to ensure that new infrastructure remains affordable and sustainable.

“As we look towards 2027, let us turn Zambia’s commitment into real connections, real opportunities and real improvements in people’s lives,” Ms. Mebrahtu said.

💡 Energy can become dignity.
⚡ Energy can become opportunity.
🤝 And when the lights come on, no one should be left behind.

27/09/2026

24/09/2026

This morning UNHCR’s Registration and Identity Management unit, in collaboration with the Office of the Commissioner for Refugees, conducted a verify plus orientation session for Immigration officers in Lusaka at the Immigration Headquarters. The session demonstrated how the verify Plus application can be used to authenticate refugee and asylum seeker documentation, helping to enhance document integrity, prevent fraud, and support informed decision making in real time.This morning UNHCR’s Registration and Identity Management unit, in collaboration with the Office of the Commissioner for Refugees, conducted a verify plus orientation session for Immigration officers in Lusaka at the Immigration Headquarters. The session demonstrated how the verify Plus application can be used to authenticate refugee and asylum seeker documentation, helping to enhance document integrity, prevent fraud, and support informed decision making in real time.

24/09/2026

18/09/2026

On 14th September 2026, UNHCR Zambia Multi-Country Office Representative a.i., Ms. Helen Mebrahtu, met with Mr. Diao Chunhe, Chairperson of the Alliance of Chinese Business in Africa on Social Responsibilities (ACBASR), and his delegation at the UNHCR Multi-Country Office in Lusaka to discuss opportunities for partnership in support of refugees and host communities in Zambia. The meeting discussions focused on potential areas of collaboration aimed at enhancing the socio-economic inclusion, empowerment and self-reliance of refugees and their host communities, particularly through initiatives in livelihoods, agriculture, capacity building and employment opportunities.
During the meeting, UNHCR warmly welcomed the Alliance's visit to Zambia and appreciated the constructive dialogue on how the expertise, networks and resources of Chinese enterprises can contribute to socio-economic inclusion and durable solutions for refugees and host communities. As a key outcome of the meeting, both parties agreed to work towards the development of a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize cooperation and advance identified areas of collaboration.
2026年9月14日，联合国难民署驻赞比亚多国办事处代理代表海伦·梅布拉图（Ms. Helen Mebrahtu）女士在卢萨卡会见了中国在非企业社会责任联盟（ACBASR）主席刁春和一行，双方就探讨支持赞比亚境内难民及东道社区的伙伴关系机遇进行了交流。会谈重点探讨了旨在增强难民社会融入、经济赋能和自立能力的潜在合作领域，特别是通过生计、农业、能力建设和就业机会等倡议。
会谈期间，联合国难民署对联盟一行访问赞比亚表示热烈欢迎，并赞赏双方就中国企业如何凭借自身专长、网络和资源促进难民及东道社区的社会经济融入与持久解决方法展开了富有建设性的对话。作为此次会晤的重要成果，双方同意着手推进谅解备忘录（MoU）的制定工作，以正式确立合作关系并推进既定的合作领域。

17/09/2026

Today UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency hosted the Japanese Ambassador(black suit) at Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi.

12/09/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1JDMPXzkZp/

Sarah-Jane Savage, UNHCR’s Senior Protection Officer in Zambia, participated in the stakeholder consultation on the draft Regulations to Zambia’s new Immigration Control Act.

UNHCR welcomed the opportunity to contribute to this important process and highlighted the importance of a regulatory framework that balances effective immigration management and national security considerations with Zambia’s international protection obligations.

UNHCR’s contributions focused on access to asylum and protection-sensitive referral mechanisms, as well as practical access to documentation, education, employment and self-employment for refugees.

UNHCR also underscored the opportunity for the Regulations to complement Zambia’s Refugees Act and support implementation of the National Refugee Policy, including its objectives of greater inclusion, self-reliance and access to durable solutions.