Farid Zarif (Persian: فرید ظریف; born 1951, in Kabul, Afghanistan) was United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Special Representative and head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).

[1] Zarif has extensive experience in diplomatic, international and United Nations affairs.

During his diplomatic service, he served in various positions inside and outside Afghanistan, including as Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York from 1981 to 1987; Deputy Foreign Minister from 1987 to 1989; and Presidential Adviser on International Affairs from 1989 to 1991.

[2] Having joined the United Nations in 1993, Mr. Zarif has since served at Headquarters in New York as well as in political, humanitarian and peacekeeping operations in Eritrea, Liberia, South Africa, Iraq and Sudan in various capacities, including Chief of Section, Director of Division, Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator and Chief of Staff.

[2] Mr. Zarif graduated from Kabul University's Faculty of Law and Political Science in 1973, and entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the following year.