Edwin Nyambane Miranga

Edwin Miranga is a highly accomplished legal and humanitarian protection professional with more than 16 years of experience in refugee law, international protection, resettlement, complementary pathways, durable solutions, and human rights programming across East Africa. Throughout his distinguished career, he has served in progressively senior roles with HIAS International and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), working at both national and international levels in Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Burundi.

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Edwin began his humanitarian career as a Legal Intern before advancing through a series of increasingly responsible positions including Assistant Protection Officer, Senior Resettlement Assistant, Protection Associate, Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Expert, and Associate Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Officer. His extensive experience spans refugee protection, legal analysis, policy implementation, resettlement processing, complementary pathways, anti-fraud mechanisms, stakeholder coordination, and strategic planning.

Over the course of his career, Edwin has developed deep expertise in Refugee Law, International Human Rights Law, protection monitoring, case management, durable solutions, voluntary repatriation, resettlement processing, and complementary pathways programming. He has reviewed and managed complex refugee cases involving credibility assessments, exclusion concerns, protection risks, and resettlement referrals, while ensuring strict adherence to international legal standards and UNHCR policies.

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In Kenya's Dadaab refugee operation, Edwin served as Protection Focal Point for Kambioos Refugee Camp, which hosted approximately 20,000 refugees. In this role, he contributed to the implementation of the Tripartite Agreement for the voluntary repatriation of Somali refugees, advised on legal and policy matters, coordinated with government authorities on documentation issues, monitored protection trends, and supported the development and updating of operational procedures. He also led tracing initiatives in collaboration with the Kenya Government and the Red Cross, strengthening family reunification efforts and refugee protection outcomes.

Throughout his career, Edwin has worked closely with a wide range of stakeholders including UN agencies, government ministries, donor governments, implementing partners, civil society organizations, and international development actors. His ability to build effective partnerships and coordinate multi-stakeholder initiatives has contributed significantly to the successful delivery of refugee protection and durable solutions programmes across multiple countries.

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While serving in Burundi, Edwin played a pivotal role in advancing resettlement and complementary pathways programming. As the country focal point for Complementary Pathways, he contributed to the development of national strategies, drafted operational procedures, coordinated with education and livelihood partners, and helped facilitate scholarship opportunities that enabled refugee students to access higher education opportunities in France and Kenya. He also successfully completed the UNHCR Training of Trainers programme on Complementary Pathways and participated in specialized international workshops in Italy.

Edwin's leadership capabilities were further demonstrated when he was entrusted with heading Burundi's countrywide Resettlement Unit in an acting capacity. During this period, he provided strategic oversight of resettlement operations, supervised and technically guided a workforce of more than 40 staff members, managed case processing activities across the operation, coordinated engagement with resettlement countries, and ensured the successful achievement of operational targets despite limited resources. He also contributed to the development of the 2024–2027 Multi-Year Multi-Partner Solutions Strategy for the Burundi Operation, helping shape long-term solutions for refugees and host communities.

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In addition, Edwin was instrumental in the rollout of UNHCR's Group Processing Methodology in Burundi, delivering specialized training and operational guidance to field teams and strengthening the effectiveness and efficiency of refugee case processing procedures. His expertise also extends to drafting and reviewing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) covering protection referrals, resettlement processing, anti-fraud mechanisms, and operational coordination frameworks.

During the emergency influx of Congolese refugees into Burundi in 2025, Edwin was deployed to support frontline protection responses, conducting border monitoring, protection interviews, vulnerability assessments, and coordination with government authorities and humanitarian partners. His adaptability, professionalism, and commitment to humanitarian principles enabled effective protection delivery during a complex and rapidly evolving emergency.

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A trained member of the UNHCR Peer Support Personnel Network, Edwin is recognized for his leadership, resilience, and ability to perform effectively in challenging environments, having served in hardship duty stations including Dadaab, Alinjugur, Kakuma, Muyinga, and Jijiga. He combines technical expertise with strong interpersonal skills, strategic thinking, and a commitment to staff wellbeing and organizational excellence.

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Edwin is professionally proficient in French and holds a DELF B2 Certification. He has also completed advanced training in programme management, innovation, leadership, and organizational effectiveness. Widely respected for his professionalism, integrity, and dedication to service, Edwin remains passionate about advancing refugee protection, expanding durable solutions, and supporting the implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees and the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) across the region.

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