3.2 It was explained that expenditure grew from R2.9 billion in 2006/07 to R5.6 billion in 2009/10 at an average annual rate of 23.5 percent. This growth was attributed to the construction of the new head office building; increased contributions to the African Renaissance and International Cooperation Fund (ARF); the acquisition of properties to expand domestic and international property management portfolios; improvements in the Department's ICT infrastructure and strengthening of missions capacity.