It focuses on a small number of countries and type of assistance where we think we will finish up with better doctors, teachers and citizens in general First minister Rhodri Morgan

The assembly government will focus on countries, like Uganda and Somalia, where Wales already has links.

Instead of handing out aid, the �500,000 initiative will concentrate on supporting projects in Wales which have links with the developing world.

First Minister Rhodri Morgan launched the plan with UK International Development Secretary Hilary Benn.

Mr Morgan said in getting involved in fighting poverty the assembly government was answering a call "throughout Wales to be able to make a contribution as Wales to international development"

But he acknowledged that the contribution would be a "drop in the ocean" and would be "valued-added" to that aid already provided by the UK government.

Tsunami

"We're trying to cover the chief priorities but to focus it so that our butter is not spread so thinly it disappears all together," said the first minister.

PLAN SUMMARY Transfer and exchange skills and expertise Support business and buying of goods Deliver targets for reducing poverty by 2015 Disaster preparedness and support crisis volunteering Encourage twinning and public sector placements Help Wales become a Fair Trade country

Financial aid will go to help groups set up to respond to disasters around the world - such as a major earthquake or a tsunami.

The Welsh initiative would concentrate on helping aid projects already in existence, said Mr Morgan in countries like Lesotho, Uganda, and Ethiopia.

These included the Gwent Ethiopia health link, the Pontypridd area - led by the Christian churches in that case - link with Uganda, and other medical and dental school links.

Mr Morgan added "It focuses on a small number of countries and type of assistance where we think we will finish up with better doctors, teachers and citizens in general as a result."

The framework for action was also going to promote the move towards making Wales a fair trade country, he said, and to build links between African communities, particularly the Somali communities spread along the south Wales coast.

Fatima Noor of the Somali Integration Society in Cardiff welcomed the aid initiative.

"I think its fantastic that Wales is actually contributing to Africa. It's good to see Wales actually doing something for them," she said.

Existing links are highlighted as good examples to encourage

But one Cardiff Somali, Eid Ali Ahamed, warned there were limits to what the assembly government can achieve.

"The assembly doesn't have the mandate and the power for major projects. What they can do is limited.

'Empower them'

"We shouldn't raise the expectation and say there's a big thing going to happen," he said.

And Ibrahim Ahbi, from Cardiff's Somali community, said they should be asked exactly what help they need.

"Helping them is...to empower them - I mean by this in a state of doing things for them, we should do with them.

"And I mean we should create projects that create employment- or we should help children to be well educated.

"So in that way they could help themselves other than relying on us, " he said.