Generally, activities are conducted at the request of the foreign country, and carried out with its full participation. They fall into several broad categories: research, public awareness and professional training, and resource management. Egypt, Pakistan and India differ in their flora and fauna as well as their management methods. While the FWS's approach in each country is consistent, the composition and structure of each program varies.

Although the overall program is coordinated in the FWS's Office of International Affairs, activities take place in the individual countries using local personnel, with U.S. and international assistance as needed. Universities, non-governmental organizations, private foundations, State conservation departments, and federal agencies other than FWS may be called upon to provide expertise. The FWS has conducted multi-year projects under formal agreements, surveying endangered species and their habitats and developing management policies and plans for ecologically important areas. Funds have been used to produce environmental education materials including films and posters in English and local languages; training activities enhancing local institutional capabilities; and cooperative international symposia on endangered species and their habitats. Also they have been used to enhance on-going efforts of host governments to encourage self-sufficient wildlife conservation activities and to help countries such as Egypt and India to establish regional programs for wildlife conservation.