Farida Momand

Farida Momand (born 14 January 1965) is an Afghan doctor and politician who served as Minister of Higher Education from 2015 to 2016.

Early life and education Momand was born in 1965 in the Momand Dara District of Nangarhar Province. She is of Pashtun descent. She studied at Rabia Balkhi High School and received a BA in Medicine from Kabul University.

Career Momand is a medical doctor and has worked in several government hospitals. She was also a candidate for the 2009 provincial election and the 2010 parliamentary election. As Minister, she called for transparency in university examinations, advocated for women in scholarship, and supported the launch of the first programs in gender studies and women's studies at Kabul University.

In 2016, the Wolesi Jirga began impeachment proceedings for ministers who had failed to spend more than 70% of their development budgets for the year. Momand was one of seven ministers dismissed over four days. She was summoned to report on her development budget spending for the year and when she did not appear on the day, was dismissed in her absence. President Ghani called the dismissals "unjustifiable" and urged the Supreme Court to intervene, while CEO Abdullah Abdullah urged the ministers to keep working until the relevant constitutional article was interpreted.

Personal life Momand is married to Habib Rayed and they have five children.