Caritas and its supporters called for concrete commitments on reversing cuts in aid from some of the world's richest countries and improving the way aid is spent.

Throughout the year, Caritas attended a series of high level events to press rich countries to keep their promises on aid, trade and debt and make progress towards achieving the MDGs.

"We are witnessing a world being created where the greediness of a few is leaving the majority on the margin of history..."

Caritas focuses on trying to get the government to adopt pro-poor policies by providing detailed research and carrying out advocacy-work in parliament and through the press.

For WYD 2008, Caritas Australia hosted a broad programme under the banner: 'Witness, Aspire, Act'. Calling on people to engage with issues of justice, and in the words of Cardinal Rodriguez, to act as true 'global citizens'.

Caritas in Africa is running many micro-finance programmes to provide access to small amounts of capital to help people set up businesses. The programmes allow families to save up money and over time repay the loans.