IAM began work in Afghanistan in 1966 and is the longest continuously serving NGO in the country. In 2011, IAM had 17 projects working in seven provinces, 10 of which focused on development and seven on health. IAM's projects include renewable energy, community development, economic development in remote rural areas and poor urban communities, training eye care professionals, and working with the disabled. Altogether 160,000 Afghans were helped and 2,000 Afghans received training by IAM in 2011.

IAM employs 500 paid Afghan staff and 60 expatriate Christian professionals from Europe, North America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. Foreign staff members are required to learn a local language and the average length of assignment is 1-3 years. All IAM expatriate staff come as volunteers and are responsible for their own financial support.