This background paper presents an assessment of international approaches to, and experiences of undertaking program and functional reviews as part of an administrative reform program. The paper examines program and functional reviews drawn from twenty five examples from fourteen different countries. The first section of this paper provides an overview of international experience of, and approaches to program and functional reviews in government. The second section provides examples of the specific approaches and methodologies used in the most common types of program and functional reviews. The third section seeks to define an appropriate methodology for undertaking such reviews in Russia as part of the developing administratice reform program, taking account both of the context and needs in Russia, and of international experience in this area.