Zachary Lefenfeld

Zachary Lefenfeld is an experienced Protection Officer at UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, since January 2018, specializing in strategic protection and solutions guidance related to conflict and climate displacement. Expertise includes overseeing legal interventions and advocacy for internally displaced persons (IDPs), leading capacity-building efforts for government and humanitarian partners, and chairing the National Community Engagement and Accountability to Affected People Working Group. Prior roles encompass managing Community-Based Protection units, serving as Head of the Legal Protection Unit, and developing registration strategies for UNHCR operations in Central America. Zachary holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology from Boston University and a Master’s Degree in Migration Studies from Tel Aviv University, complemented by extensive work in refugee resettlement and legal protection.