The Office of the Commissioner for Refugees is a Department in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security responsible for the control, management, regulation and coordination of the welfare of asylum seekers, refugees and former refugees in Zambia. The Department derives its mandate from the Refugees Act, No. 1 of 2017, of the Laws of Zambia, and provides quality services such as registrat
ion of asylum seekers, Refugee Status Determination (RSD), legal assistance, as well as facilitation of civil registration documentation to refugees and other Persons of Concern. The Office also facilitates durable solutions to Persons of Concern such as Voluntary Repatriation (VOLREP), Resettlement and Local Integration (LI). Further, the Department is also responsible for providing and/or facilitating the provision of health, education, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), community and social services to Persons of Concern. MISSION
To provide protection and assistance to asylum seekers and refugees in order to ensure their general welfare and contribute to the maintenance of internal security. GOAL
Provide protection and assistance to all asylum seekers and refugees in conformity with the relevant international conventions in order to contribute to their general welfare and maintenance of internal security. OVERALL FUNCTION
Recognition of refugees and ensuring the provision of adequate facilities and services for the reception into and care of refugees within Zambia. CORE FUNCTIONS
• Co-ordinate activities and programmes for refugees and the provision of security, protection and assistance to refugees in refugee settlements;
• Co-ordinate measures necessary for promoting the welfare of refugees and advise the Minister on all matters relating to refugees;
• Manage refugee reception areas, refugee settlements and other facilities for refugees;
• Receive and process applications for the recognition of refugees;
• Issue refugee identification documents and process and recommend applications for the issuance of refugee travel documents;
• Issue movement passes to refugees for travel outside the refugee settlements within Zambia;
• Issue visitors permits for entry into refugee settlements;
• Register and maintain a register of asylum seekers, refugees and former refugees;
• Ensure that refugee economic and productive activities do not have an adverse effect on host communities or the environment;
• Ensure the sustainable use and sustainable management of the environment in refugee hosting areas;
• Protect and assist vulnerable asylum seekers, refugees and former refugees, especially women and children;
• Ensure treatment of asylum seekers and refugees in compliance with the law;
• Facilitate the safe return of Zambians living as refugees in other countries;
• Administer and manage the Refugee Fund;
• Cooperate with organisations and institutions with similar functions within and outside Zambia; and
OUR TAGERT AUDICENCE
The primary target audiences of the Department are asylum seekers from other countries, refugees and former refugees living in Zambia as well as returnee Zambian’s living as refugees in other countries. OUR COVERAGE
The Office of the Commissioner for Refugees has presence in four provinces namely Lusaka, North-Western, Western and Luapula. Lusaka Province has two offices namely Head Office and Makeni Transit Centre which covers Lusaka, Eastern, Central and part of Southern Provinces. The Office in North-Western Province Office is situated in Meheba Refugee Settlement of Kalumbila District, was established in 1971 and covers North-Western and Copperbelt Provinces while the Office in Western Province is situated in Mayukwayukwa Refugee Settlement of Kaoma District, was established in 1966 and covers the entire Western and part of Southern Provinces. Lastly, the Office in Luapula Province is situated in Mantapala Refugee Settlement of Nchelenge District was established in 2017 and covers Luapula, Northern and Muchinga Provinces.
