Ismael Cruceta

[email protected] • +504 9457 3685 • Tegucigalpa, Honduras
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ismaelcruceta

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Strategic communications professional with over 11 years of experience in the United Nations System, international cooperation, focused on positioning, advocacy, donor visibility, and digital engagement. Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams, design impactful campaigns, and align communication actions with organizational priorities. Strong background in migration, child protection, and community engagement, with field experience in Honduras and Bolivia and academic expertise in Latin America and Europe.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Head of Programme Support Unit (PSU)
10/2024 - Present
IOM - UN Migration , Tegucigalpa, Honduras
• Leading four key areas within the Country Office:
• Strategic Communications: Oversight of all institutional visibility efforts, communication campaigns, and media relations.
• Project Development: Coordination of project design aligned with the IOM Strategic Results Framework.
• Research and Data Analysis: Strengthening of analytical products and evidence-based decision-making.
• Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E): Implementation of systems to measure progress, outcomes, and impact.
Head of Communications and Public Information Unit
01/2022 - 09/2024
IOM - UN Migration , Tegucigalpa, Honduras
• Directed communication campaigns with a strong gender and child rights focus, including youth empowerment initiatives, including Think Twice, awarded the 2024 IOM Impact Award.
• Built strong partnerships with national and international media outlets (CNN, EFE).
• Led social media strategies achieving over 42 million views, featuring content on childhood, migration, and human rights.
• Developed multimedia storytelling to raise awareness on the challenges faced by girls, boys and families in migration contexts.
• Strengthened internal communication with newsletters and sustainability bulletins.
National Project Coordinator
07/2020 - 12/2021
IOM - UN Migration , Tegucigalpa, Honduras
• Managed a multi-country project funded by the European Union.
• Led communication campaigns to combat stigma and discrimination against migrants during the pandemic.
• Coordinated with regional offices and partners across Central America and the Caribbean.
Press Officer
02/2017 - 06/2020
IOM - UN Migration , Tegucigalpa, Honduras
• Drafted press releases, official statements, op-eds, and media content.
• Provided editorial support for reports and institutional publications.
• Organized public events, press conferences, and high-level visits.
• Designed and facilitated media workshops on migration with a rights-based approach.
College Professor
07/2018 - 02/2020
Universidad Tecnológica Centroamericana , Tegucigalpa, Honduras
• Subject: Corporate Reputation.
• Master's Degree in Corporate Communication Management.
• Postgraduate Faculty
Communications Specialist
03/2015 - 02/2017
United Nations , Tegucigalpa, Honduras
• Coordination of the Interagency Communication Group of the United Nations System in Honduras.
• Implementation of the Joint Communication and Visibility Strategy 2015-2016.
• Management of external communication channels and social media.
• Information management and positioning with national, regional, and international media.
• Leadership and coordination in the execution of public events.
• Assistance in the coordination, formulation, and publication of the new United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2017-2021.
• Writing press releases, official statements, success stories, publication development, and other communication and supported advocacy on children’s rights and inclusion of vulnerable groups.
• Audiovisual systematization of the Biodiversity Conservation Project in Indigenous Productive Landscapes of Moskitia.
• Oversight and support in the process of the Draft Law on Prior, Free, and Informed Consultation of Indigenous Peoples in Honduras (with the Tolupán, Miskito, Pech, and Garífuna peoples).
• Assistance in organizing meetings of the UN Country Team in Honduras and bilateral meetings with counterparts from the Government of Honduras and other allied actors.
• Acting as a focal point for Non-Resident Agencies in Honduras (UNESCO, UNODC, IAEA).
Communications Department
04/2014 - 03/2015
Triodos Bank España , Madrid, Spain
• Writing of articles for the "Transparent Banking Stories" section.
• Conducting interviews and writing articles on social, cultural, and environmental topics for the company’s various communication channels (Somos Triodos Blog, Triodos Magazine, etc.).
• Management of an internal communication channel in coordination with the bank’s different departments, and support in the development of the monthly internal newsletter for employees.
• Support in the organization of internal events.
Communications Assistant at the Resident Coordinator’s Office in Bolivia
01/2013 - 07/2013
United Nations , La Paz, Bolivia
• Focal point for the Office of the Resident Coordinator (OCR) in the United Nations Interagency Communication Group (GIC) and the Gender Technical Group (GTG).
• Support in the 'Post-2015 Agenda' process for the development of the document "The Future We Want".
• Support in the development of the Monitoring and Evaluation strategy for the 2013–2017 UNDAF.
Journalist
10/2008 - 09/2011
Newspaper Sí Se Puede Comunicación, S.L , Madrid, Spain
• Staff Writer – International Section: Focus on South America and countries with a strong immigrant presence in Spain.
• Supplement Coordinator: Special Morocco and Special Romania.
• Conducted interviews and in-depth reports on migration-related topics.
• Photography: Photojournalism and graphic editing.
• Wrote opinion pieces for the newspaper’s blog.

EDUCATION

Specialization in Digital Communication for Social Transformation
01/2016 - 01/2017
Universitat Oberta de Catalunya , Spain
Master’s Degree in Ibero-American International Relations
01/2012 - 01/2014
Universidad Rey Juan Carlos , Madrid, Spain
Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism
01/2005 - 01/2009
Universidad Rey Juan Carlos , Madrid, Spain
Cultural Mediation and Communication
01/2006 - 01/2007
Université Paul Valéry , Montpellier, France

SKILLS

CERTIFICATIONS

Child Protection: Children's Rights in Theory and Practice
HarvardX
Communication and Journalism in Humanitarian Crisis Response
European Institute of Training in Humanitarian Aid
Institutional communication planning for development and social change projects with a gender focus
Andalusian Solidarity Development Association
With IOM
IOM