Mission and objectives

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It supports governments and migrants by offering services and policy guidance to ensure migration is managed safely, responsibly, and with dignity; contributing to development, humanitarian response, and the protection of human rights. In the Caribbean, migration has been central to shaping the region’s identity. From the tragedy of slavery to today’s vibrant diasporas and multi-generational migrant communities, mobility remains both a cornerstone of society and an enduring aspiration. Today, the region faces growing challenges such as climate change, demographic shifts, and labor shortages among them. Migration can serve as a vital tool to enhance resilience, foster inclusive development, and support effective governance. Composed largely of small island developing states (SIDS), the Caribbean has unique vulnerabilities. Economies are dependent on imports, tourism, and remittances, with populations clustered in coastal areas. This makes countries especially vulnerable to climate-related disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and sea level rise. Without stronger investment in preparedness and adaptation, the risk of displacement is likely to grow. At the same time, ageing populations and ongoing outward migration, especially to the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., are creating labor gaps in key sectors. While CARICOM’s intra-regional labor mobility offers solutions, attracting external labor may become necessary, marking a shift for a region traditionally seen as one of origin.

Context

The Caribbean cruise industry carries millions of passengers through the same islands where IOM works daily on migration, border management, and emergency response. This creates a natural partnership opportunity. Cruise lines invest heavily in guest experience, ESG commitments, and smooth port operations — and IOM can contribute to all three: offering compelling content on Caribbean history and migration, creating voluntourism experiences for passengers, and supporting faster, better-managed border crossings. This UNV assignment maps the major cruise lines operating in the Caribbean, analyses their priorities and sustainability commitments, and identifies which companies are most aligned with IOM's offer — building the foundation for mutually beneficial partnerships.

Task Description

The volunteer will support IOM's Caribbean team by researching and compiling a structured overview of the major cruise lines operating in the Caribbean. The goal is to help IOM identify and prepare for partnership opportunities with the cruise industry, particularly in three areas: enriching the guest experience, advancing ESG and sustainability commitments, and strengthening operational excellence and border governance. The research will cover the major cruise lines operating in the Caribbean, such as Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, and Disney Cruise Line. For each cruise line, the volunteer will collect business and marketing strategy information, including their stated priorities, target markets, and recent campaigns. Financial information such as annual turnover, operating costs, and profit figures will be gathered from publicly available sources such as annual reports, investor presentations, and financial news. Operational information will include the number of ships in their fleet, key port calls and routes in the Caribbean, estimated passenger volumes, and workforce size. The volunteer will also review each cruise line's publicly available ESG and sustainability reports, looking specifically for existing programmes or stated ambitions related to migration, border management, community resilience, or humanitarian partnerships. This will help IOM identify the most promising entry points for engagement. All information will be compiled in one clean, consolidated document or spreadsheet, with a short profile for each cruise line. The volunteer will also include a brief note on where IOM's areas of interest best align with each company's stated priorities, to support IOM's outreach preparation.

Competencies and values

Living conditions and remarks