British Council - Villa Karo Design for Climate residency Programme in Benin 2026

Omran Aburayya
May 9
2 min read

If you're a design professional passionate about sustainability and eager to engage in cross-cultural collaboration, the British Council and Villa Karo invite you to apply for the Design for Climate residency in Benin, taking place in spring 2026. This fully funded, eight-week program supports two designers—one from the UK and one from West Africa (Nigeria or Ghana)—to explore climate-focused design in a unique cultural setting.

📝 Programme Summary

Location: Grand-Popo, Benin
Host Institution: Villa Karo – Finnish Institute for West Africa
Study Level: Professional residency
Target Group: Designers based in the UK, Nigeria, or Ghana
Fields of Focus: Architecture, fashion, product design, sustainable design, and other design disciplines
Award Value & Coverage:
- Return travel costs to Benin
- Private accommodation with breakfast, cleaning, and laundry
- £1,000 stipend for daily expenses
- Support for creative production costs
- Networking opportunities with local and international artists
Duration: 8 weeks (23 March – 17 May 2026; later start date possible)
Application Deadline: 9 June 2025, 23:59 BST
Eligible To: Professional designers based in the UK, Nigeria, or Ghana.

🌍 Scholarship Overview

The Design for Climate residency is a collaborative initiative between the British Council and Villa Karo, aiming to address climate challenges through interdisciplinary design practices and cross-cultural exchange. Participants will develop new design projects inspired by their residency experience, engage with local artists and community members through workshops and discussions, and showcase their work through exhibitions or presentations. The residency also encourages documentation and sharing of experiences via reports and British Council platforms.

🏛️ Villa Karo Facilities

Villa Karo, located in Grand-Popo, Benin, has served as a cultural bridge between Finland, West Africa, and the broader international community for over 25 years. The facility offers dedicated workspaces, a cultural history museum, a museum of contemporary art, multipurpose spaces and workshops, and regular cultural events and programming. Residents are accommodated in the Main Building, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, with rooms equipped with a bed, mosquito netting, desk, wardrobe, and ceiling fan. The communal setting encourages informal exchanges across different disciplines and backgrounds, while connections with surrounding communities offer opportunities for collaboration that can inform design processes.

🎁 Residency Benefits

Full residency services at Villa Karo
Private accommodation with breakfast, cleaning, and laundry
Return travel costs to Benin
£1,000 stipend for daily expenses
Support for creative production costs
Networking opportunities with local and international artists

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

Be professional designers based in the UK, Nigeria, or Ghana
Have experience in any design discipline (architecture, design, fashion, etc.)
Be interested in addressing climate change through design
Be able to commit to an eight-week residency in Benin in Spring 2026

Both early-career and established practitioners are welcome to apply. Applications will be evaluated primarily on the viability of the work plan and alignment with the ‘design for climate’ theme.