Nairobi: Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, along with First Ladies of Africa and Asia who serve as their ambassadors, and partners including Ministries of Health, Education, Communication, and Gender, marked International Women's Day 2026 through their development programs. This initiative reaffirms their commitment over 14 years to empower women and girls. According to African Press Organization, Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.), CEO of Merck Foundation, emphasized that empowering women and girls is a core aspect of their mission. She highlighted the foundation's long-standing collaboration with First Ladies of Africa and Asia in celebrating this day through action-oriented programs like More Than a Mother, Merck Foundation Scholarships Program, Educating Linda, and the STEM Program. Dr. Kelej extended her warm wishes to women and girls worldwide, encouraging them to rise with confidence and break barriers. The More Than a Mother initiative focuses on empowering infertile and chi ldless women by providing access to information, education, health, and changing societal mindsets. The Merck Foundation Scholarships Program has transformed patient care in Africa, Asia, and beyond by offering over 2,500 scholarships in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties. Nearly 50% of these scholarships have been awarded to women, empowering them to become future leaders in healthcare. Dr. Kelej highlighted the importance of education in women empowerment, with the Educating Linda program providing over 1,200 annual scholarships to underprivileged African schoolgirls from 19 countries. This initiative enables girls to complete their education and reach their full potential. Additionally, the foundation supports women in Science and Technology through its STEM Program and the Merck Foundation Africa Research Summit (MARS) Awards, which recognize outstanding African women researchers. Moreover, Merck Foundation, in partnership with First Ladies of Africa and Asia, announces annual awards in med ia, song, film, and fashion to raise awareness about women empowerment, girl education, and related themes like breaking infertility stigma, ending female genital mutilation and child marriage, and stopping gender-based violence. They also promote girls' education through creative initiatives, including storybooks, animation films, songs, and a dedicated TV program, Our Africa by Merck Foundation. The foundation provides various resources for supporting girl education, including episodes of Our Africa, storybooks, animation films, and songs available online. These efforts are aimed at fostering a supportive environment for girls' education and empowerment.