This Agile success story is drawn from Dr Caroline Ng’weno’s and Gladys Ng’weno’s experience report, “Agile in The Wild: Sustainability by Adopting XP Values in Wildlife Conservation.”
Agile in the wild sounds like something of a contradiction. We think of Agile as a sleek, efficient process for streamlining work in sleek, efficient offices. But here, it’s playing out in the rugged, unpredictable Maasai Mara, where the stakes are as high as they get.
The Agile Mavericks LTD team, led by wildlife ecologist Dr. Caroline Ng’weno, took on a challenge most of us wouldn’t dream of: using Agile practices to conserve one of the world’s most iconic ecosystems.
And yes, Agile works here too, but not without effort, humility, and patience.
The challenge
The Maasai Mara is a place of staggering beauty but deep conflict. Climate change and human encroachment put immense pressure on the land, threatening not just wildlife but also the communities that live alongside it.
Traditional conservation methods weren’t working fast enough, and something had to change.
Enter Agile.
The team brought in Agile principles to help break down these complex problems, starting with the basics: communication, simplicity, feedback, courage, and respect.
It’s easy to say those words. Living them is another story.
The Agile approach
1. Communication
Effective conservation demands communication—real, ongoing dialogue. This wasn’t just about researchers and rangers huddling over maps. It involved everyone from local communities to policymakers.
Regular meetings ensured no one was left in the dark. Everyone had a voice, and that’s key.
As Dr. Caroline explained, “When communities feel heard, they become part of the solution.” Simple words, but the impact was profound.
2. Simplicity
We often think complexity equals sophistication, but in conservation, simplicity is strength.
Agile taught them to strip away what wasn’t essential. For example, instead of focusing on abstract goals, the team zoomed in on pressing issues like human-wildlife conflict. Targeting just a few initiatives, such as mobile livestock enclosures (bomas), led to quick wins.
These small steps started to change the ecosystem’s balance.
3. Feedback
Here’s the thing about conservation: it’s a moving target. The land shifts. Wildlife migrates. People’s needs change. That’s why feedback became a cornerstone of the team’s work. They used real-time data to adjust their strategies. They didn’t wait for big annual reviews. They adjusted on the fly—an approach that kept them adaptive and responsive. And that’s what kept them effective.
4. Courage
Courage isn’t just about taking risks; it’s about embracing uncertainty.
Dr. Caroline’s team wasn’t afraid to experiment, even when the outcome was unclear. Mobile bomas were one example of this. It was a new idea—using temporary enclosures for livestock to help restore overgrazed land.
The team didn’t know if it would work, but they tried. And, as it turns out, it did.
5. Respect
Respect in this context meant listening to local communities.
Conservation efforts often fail because they don’t respect the knowledge and traditions of the people living in the area. Dr. Caroline’s team recognized that the Maasai had deep-rooted expertise. So, they didn’t impose solutions; they co-created them.
That mutual respect led to stronger, more sustainable outcomes.
Key insights
Breaking Problems Down
One of the most powerful lessons they discovered was the importance of breaking problems into smaller, manageable parts.
Conservation can feel overwhelming due to factors like habitat loss, climate change, and poaching. But when the team focused on smaller, immediate issues, they saw faster progress. Tackling smaller tasks didn’t solve the larger problems, but it made them feel less daunting by addressing them piece by piece.
Continuous Measurement
Another important insight was the value of continuous measurement. This wasn’t just about counting animals. The team looked at a range of factors, including the following:
- Pasture health
- Predator-prey relationships
- Community attitudes
One key tool they used was the Pasture Disc Meter, which helped them assess grass and biomass levels. This allowed the team to determine whether areas were overgrazed, under-grazed, or in healthy condition, ensuring they could adapt their strategies to restore balance in the ecosystem.
Just like in software development, they relied on a feedback loop:
- Try a solution.
- Measure the results.
- Adjust as needed.
- Repeat.
This ongoing cycle allowed the team to stay adaptable and ready to respond to changing conditions.
The outcomes
So, what did all this effort yield? The most visible results came from the mobile bomas. These temporary livestock enclosures reduced overgrazing, helped regenerate grasslands, and allowed wildlife to thrive in previously degraded areas. They also minimized human-wildlife conflict, protecting both people’s livelihoods and the animals.
On the human side, Dr. Caroline’s outreach programs empowered local youth, especially girls. The girls were given tools and education, and the results were transformative. One of the standout initiatives was the Sunshine Readers Club, where young children gathered to read and learn about conservation. Through storytelling and mentorship, these future leaders developed a passion for protecting their environment, sparking hope for the future of conservation.
These future leaders are now advocates for conservation within their own communities. Their enthusiasm, sparked by mentorship and storytelling, is one of the most hopeful outcomes of this project.
Lessons learned
In the end, what makes this story special isn’t just the success—it’s the approach. Conservationists and Agile practitioners alike can learn from the simple truth that adaptability and collaboration are key to surviving in a constantly changing world.
Key takeaways:
- Break problems down: Addressing smaller, manageable goals leads to faster progress without ignoring larger challenges.
- Measure and adapt: Real-time feedback and continuous measurement are critical for staying on track in an ever-shifting environment.
- Collaborate with local communities: Mutual respect and co-creation lead to more inclusive, sustainable solutions.
Reflection and future considerations
Looking ahead, Dr. Caroline’s team has plans to expand their conservation efforts. They’re not just stopping with the bomas or community outreach. They’re thinking bigger, more systemically.
How can these Agile practices scale? How can they continue to innovate in the face of changing climates and shifting landscapes? Those are the questions that drive them.
The ultimate Agile lesson here is something simple yet profound: adapting to change goes beyond short-term plans or tactics. It’s a fundamental approach to living and working.
Whether it’s wildlife in the savanna or organizations in the boardroom, the ones who thrive are those who stay flexible, stay curious, and never stop learning.
For the full story, read Dr Caroline Ng’weno’s and Gladys Ng’weno’s experience report, “Agile in The Wild: Sustainability by Adopting XP Values in Wildlife Conservation.”
