This article explores the current challenges of implementing Agile project management methods in the public sector within the context of digital transformation. As governments face growing demands for efficiency, transparency, and citizen-centered services, traditional project management approaches have shown limited adaptability. The purpose of this study is to conduct a comparative benchmarking analysis of Agile practices across five countries (USA, Singapore, Estonia, UAE, and China) to generate recommendations for their adaptation in Kazakhstan. The research methodology is based on qualitative case study analysis, incorporating data from academic literature. National projects were selected that demonstrate the application of Scrum, SAFe, Kanban, or hybrid frameworks. The comparison focused on governance design, delivery timeline, budget control, stakeholder engagement, and scalability strategy. The originality and value of this study lie in contextualizing international best practices for developing digital ecosystems like Kazakhstan. In light of administrative rigidity and weak coordination among public institutions, the article proposes a hybrid Agile approach-combining modular implementation at the ministerial level with scalable coordination mechanisms for large inter-agency programs. The findings reveal that Agile is most successful when centralized strategic oversight is balanced with team autonomy, when user-centered design is integrated from the early stages, and when shared digital infrastructure enables scalable delivery. The results offer a roadmap for building a more adaptive, resilient, and outcome-oriented model for managing public sector digital initiatives in Kazakhstan.

Agile approach, public administration, digital transformation, benchmarking, flexible methodologies, project management, e-government.