Haitian-born musician Wyclef Jean has launched an initiative named “Together for Haiti,” which aims to help the impoverished country by providing food, creating jobs and supporting local agriculture.

Wyclef Jean held a news conference in Manhattan on Monday, May 20, to announce the creation of “Together for Haiti,” described on the singer’s official website as an “emergency allegiance for food crisis relief.”

The initiative is backed by the World Food Program, the Pan American Development Foundation and Yéle Haiti, Jean’s charitable foundation for his native country.

“We have come together to launch this new initiative because I believe we can do more and better for Haiti when we act together,” Jean said Monday, as quoted by Reuters. Jean and his partners hope to succeed in raising $48 million over the next six months.

The money, Jean explained, is meant to be used in a more complex way than just providing free food. Much in the way of the old Chinese proverb, ‘Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime,’ the initiative is also looking to fund job creation and assistance for farmers.

Jean explained “Together for Haiti” is interested in “feeding people” but also in offering an alternative that can help them in a “sustainable way.”

Joining the former The Fugees member at the conference were aid officials and Paul Simon and model Petra Nemcova, who both support the campaign.

Jean’s campaign comes after riots emerged on the streets of Haiti in protest against rising food prices. At least six people were killed last month during the unrest.

The singer created Yéle Haiti in 2004 to provide humanitarian aid and assistance to the impoverished country. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have been involved in the organization’s projects.