The Europe and Mediterranean Field Committee was established along with other Field Committees in 1963. The Field Committees reported to the Overseas Aid Committee and were responsible for considering grant applications, with powers to approve up to £5,000 initially.

The Europe and Mediterranean Field Committee was renamed and the countries that it related to changed over the decades, but countries in the Middle East were dealt with throughout its life. By 1965 it formed part of the Latin America and Mediterranean Field Committee. After the setting up of the Latin America and Caribbean Field Committee in 1966, it again functioned as the Europe and Mediterranean Field Committee.

There are very few surviving papers of the Europe and Mediterranean Field Committee and its successors, the Middle East and North Africa Field Committee; the Europe, Middle East and North Africa Field Committee; and the Europe, West Asia and North Africa Field Committee. There are only patchy survivals of papers for 1963-1967, and an incomplete set of materials for 1972-1980, all contemporary copies.

Minutes and papers survive for the West Asia Field Committee (1981-1982); the Middle East Field Committee (1983); the Middle East and Red Sea Committee (1983-1986); and the Middle East Field Committee (1986-1992).

Annual reports of Field Directors were submitted to the Committees from the 1970s. As well as reviewing the previous year, they often laid out priorities for the coming year. Occasional country or programme reviews were also submitted, as well as tour reports, evaluation reports and other reports relating to the programme.

The Middle East and other Field Committees were stood down in 1992 and their functions passed to a new, global Overseas Committee.