The African Union (AU) has voted for a fourfold increase in its budget, but cuts still have to be made to some programmes. Among areas that have been put on hold until next year is the continent-wide, anti-poverty blueprint – the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad). The AU had wanted $200 million a year to finance Nepad – in areas like road and bridge building - then cut that figure to $30 million before it was shelved. The current AU budget is $43 million, but only $27 million has been paid up.