Mission and objectivesThe International Organization for Migration (IOM) is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. In the Caribbean, IOM supports governments and partners to address migration challenges and opportunities through a comprehensive approach that integrates climate resilience, gender equity, and food security. IOM works to strengthen regional cooperation and institutional capacities, ensuring that migration is safe, orderly, and responsive to the climate and development needs of Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
ContextCaribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face escalating climate impactsโrising seas, fiercer hurricanes, longer droughts. These shocks compound development hurdles, reshaping food systems, gender relations, and migration. Environmental degradation and economic precarity heighten risks for women and girls, whose roles in farming, caregiving, and resource stewardship leave them exposed (UN Women, 2023). Food security and climate resilience are intertwined. Caribbean SIDS import most food while local farms battle saltwater intrusion, crop loss, and storms. Women farmers, with limited land, credit, and voice, bear the brunt (FAO, 2021). Climate-driven livelihood shocks tend to increase internal, regional, and international migration, displacement, and planned relocations, demanding rights-based, gender-responsive policies (IOM, 2023). The 2024 Antigua & Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS) urges stronger early-warning, inclusive relocation plans, and gender-sensitive adaptation (UN DESA, 2024). The 2023 OECS Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment, and Climate Change likewise calls for integrated regional action centering marginalized voices and climate-smart agriculture. This assignment responds directly to these regional priorities. With funding support from the Government of Ireland, IOM aims to empower Caribbean youth to contribute meaningfully to climate action, strengthen gender-sensitive policy dialogue, and promote food security as part of an integrated resilience-building agenda. The UN Youth Volunteer will work to bridge research, advocacy, and policy implementation by supporting inclusive stakeholder engagement and fostering knowledge exchange across the Caribbean SIDS and beyond, including the Pacific Islands. This initiative aligns with priorities and Irelandโs pledge to climate justice and gender equity.
Task DescriptionUnder the direct supervision of the Coordinator for the Dutch and English-speaking Caribbean and the Chief of Mission for Barbados, and in close coordination with the Regional Thematic Specialist for Climate Mobility and Climate Action for the Americas and the Caribbean, and the IOM missions and regional partners, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: 1. Policy Support and Strategic Analysis -Support the mapping and analysis of regional and national policies related to climate change adaptation, food security, and gender equality in the context of human mobility across Caribbean SIDS. -Assist in reviewing and aligning Caribbean SIDS strategies with global frameworks such as the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS), and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Loss and Damage workstreams as they relate to human mobility. -Contribute to the preparation of policy briefs, background documents, and talking points to inform IOMโs engagement in regional and international forums, including Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and COP processes. -Provide research assistance to examine the integration of human mobility, including its gender dimensions, into National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and other regional and national strategies. 2. Programme and Project Design -Assist in the conceptualization and development of regional initiatives or pilot projects that address the nexus between climate change, gender equality, human mobility, and food security in coordination with relevant UN agencies and other stakeholders. -Contribute to the preparation of project concept notes, logical frameworks, and donor briefing materials, aligned with priorities identified by Caribbean SIDS and UN priorities under its UN Multi-Country Sustainability Development Framework (UNMSDCF). -Support IOMโs technical cooperation with governments and regional institutions to promote gender-responsive, climate-smart, and mobility-informed resilience programming. -Assist in identifying financing opportunities for regional climate mobility programming, particularly in the context of the Loss and Damage Fund or climate financing instruments relevant to SIDS. 3. Stakeholder Engagement and (Cross) Regional Coordination -Support IOMโs engagement with regional partners, including CARICOM, Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), UN agencies (FAO, UN WOMEN, UNFPA, etc), civil society organizations, academic institutions, and regional climate bodies (e.g., Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA)). -Help coordinate consultations, technical workshops, or roundtables with SIDS governments and partners from the Caribbean region and beyond, including the Pacific Islands, to foster knowledge-sharing and identify strategic priorities. -Contribute to the documentation of good practices and lessons learned from Caribbean SIDS and beyond on gender-responsive adaptation, food systems transformation, and disaster risk governance. -Assist in the coordination of joint communications or policy advocacy initiatives that amplify the collective voice of Caribbean SIDS in global fora. 4. Knowledge Generation and Reporting -Assist in the preparation of research notes, infographics, and synthesis reports highlighting key trends and recommendations on climate-induced mobility, as it impacts gender equality and food security risks across the Caribbean. -Contribute to the monitoring of global climate negotiations, particularly regarding Loss and Damage and human mobility, and prepare concise updates for internal and external audiences. -Support the drafting of progress reports and briefing documents for IOM management and donors, particularly Ireland, ensuring visibility of outcomes and results. This role will be instrumental in helping IOM advance a coherent and gender-inclusive approach to climate resilience and mobility in the Caribbean, grounded in regional solidarity and SIDS-specific priorities. The assignment offers opportunities to support both high-level policy dialogue and practical programmatic interventions, including preparation for upcoming climate diplomacy milestones such as COP.
Competencies and valuesโโโAdaptability and Flexibility โโโCommitment and Motivation โโโCommunication โโCreativity โโโIntegrity โโโKnowledge Sharing โโโProfessionalism โโโRespect for Diversity โโWorking in Teams
Living conditions and remarksThe UN Volunteer will be based in Bridgetown, Barbados, a family-duty station with stable political and social conditions and good infrastructure. Barbados serves as a hub for regional Caribbean institutions and offers opportunities for engagement with regional actors. Travel to other Caribbean SIDS may be required, subject to security and budget considerations. You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos