Merck Foundation and African First Ladies./PHOTO; Courtesy
African First Ladies, working with the Merck Foundation, are intensifying efforts to end female genital mutilation (FGM), placing girls’ education and community dialogue at the centre of prevention strategies across the continent.
The renewed push was highlighted during the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation 2026, marked through advocacy, media engagement and education-focused initiatives led by the Merck Foundation in partnership with African First Ladies.
FGM remains widespread globally, with the World Health Organization estimating that more than 230 million women and girls have undergone the practice. Africa bears the largest burden, accounting for over 144 million cases, or more than 60 per cent of the global total.
Speaking during the commemoration, Merck Foundation Chief Executive Officer Dr. Rasha Kelej described FGM as a deeply harmful practice that continues to violate the rights of women and girls.
“FGM has no health benefits, only harms,” she said, stressing that it undermines the dignity and wellbeing of millions across Africa and beyond.
She added that silence around the practice remains one of the biggest obstacles to ending it.
“Together with African First Ladies, we are committed to breaking the silence and empowering communities to stand against this deeply rooted tradition.”
Education at the heart of prevention
African First Ladies have increasingly framed girls’ education as a powerful tool to prevent FGM, child marriage and other harmful practices.
Through the Educating Linda programme, implemented by the Merck Foundation in partnership with First Ladies, more than 1,200 scholarships have been awarded to underprivileged but high-performing schoolgirls from 19 African countries.
Dr. Kelej said education strengthens girls’ agency and reduces their vulnerability.
“Education is one of the most essential pillars of women’s empowerment,” she said, noting that educated girls are more likely to challenge harmful norms and make informed decisions about their health and futures.
The programme supports girls from countries including Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, Zambia and The Gambia, among others.
Beyond scholarships, the Merck Foundation has also distributed school supplies and produced child-friendly learning materials to reinforce the value of education.
Using media and leadership to shift social norms
The advocacy effort also extends into African media spaces.
The Merck Foundation marked the day through a dedicated episode of its pan-African television programme, Our Africa by Merck Foundation, which addressed the dangers of FGM and appealed directly to communities to abandon the practice.
“Through our ‘Our Africa’ TV programme, we communicate the harms of FGM in detail and call on communities to stop it,” Dr. Kelej said.
The programme is broadcast on major television stations across several African countries and shared widely on social media platforms, allowing messages to reach audiences beyond urban centres.
In addition, African First Ladies and the Merck Foundation annually launch the More Than a Mother Awards, recognising journalists, filmmakers, musicians, and designers whose work raises awareness on ending FGM and supporting girls’ education.
Dr. Kelej said leadership matters in shifting attitudes.
“When leaders speak openly and consistently, it helps communities see that harmful practices are neither acceptable nor inevitable.”
As African countries continue to balance legislation, enforcement, and social change, the partnership between African First Ladies and the Merck Foundation highlights a prevention-driven approach one that combines education, media, and leadership to protect the next generation of girls.
