On July 6, 2006, the West Africa Power Pool (WAPP) was officially launched as an independent body with the signing of the Articles of Agreement by the executive directors of the member utilities.

The Articles of Agreement were drafted through the WAPP Partnership Program with the help of the Southwest Power Pool in Little Rock, Arkansas. The program is managed by the U.S. Energy Association and funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development / West Africa Regional Program.

The Articles of Agreement --previously signed by the heads of state of all 14 member countries -- laid out the formula for members’ financial contributions to WAPP, the management structure and conditions for membership. WAPP based its new Articles on the structure of the Southwest Power Pool.

At the inaugural meeting, the WAPP leadership also adopted a business plan for the next three years, agreed upon the financial support for the WAPP Coordination Center and its personnel – to be based in Cotonou, Benin – and adopted a WAPP logo. USEA has worked with WAPP since 2001, exposing the working group members and member utility directors to successful independent transmission operations, state and federal regulatory bodies, and U.S. utility transmission control centers. The results have been both a clearer understanding of the benefits and purpose of the power pool and regulation in West Africa, and a basis from which to form the independent WAPP.