Representatives from Caritas member organisations, the Caritas Internationalis (CI) General Secretariat, and the CIDSE network (Coopération Internationale pour le Développement et la Solidarité) agreed to set up a new Working Group on Haiti during a January 2006 meeting at the CI General Secretariat in Vatican City. The Caribbean nation, long plagued by socio-political turmoil and violence, is one of the poorest countries in the world.

The decision to set up the working group signals a long-term commitment by Caritas, Catholic agencies, and Church entities to support Caritas Haiti 's work in addressing its country's social crisis.

Pursuing lasting solutions to this crisis and promoting the transformation of the country into a more just society based on solidarity are among Caritas Haiti 's priority issues.

Delegates from nine Caritas member organisations (Caritas Haiti , Catholic Relief Services, Trocaire, CAFOD, SCIAF, Caritas Spain , Secours Catholique, Caritas Switzerland, and Caritas Italy) and the CIDSE network were in attendance.

Representing Caritas Haiti were the organisation's President, Msgr Pierre Dumas (Auxiliary Bishop, Port-au-Prince ), and Director, Fr Wilnès Tilus.

In laying down its goals, the Working Group agreed to strengthen partnership between member organisations in working together for Haiti , to strengthen the capacity for coordination of bilateral international cooperation, and to strengthen the capacity for coordination of advocacy activities related to Haiti.

Caritas Internationalis is a confederation of 162 Catholic relief, development, and social service organisations present in 200 countries and territories.