IntroArguments from academics, NGOs, the United Nations and ordinary people around the world said little has changed in the World Bank's approach to concessional lending and debt relief after the fall of the Washington Consensus. As the failures of neoliberalism became apparent and the general development discourse began to favor new emerging theories, the World Bank shifted its lending approach from Structural Adjustment Programs to Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs). PRSPs were intended to be a key tool representing the new and refined notion of post-Washington development with a focus on human rights (Robin Perry). Many, however, argue that SAP and PRSP are conceptually identical, but simply have a different name. While this essay does not refute the fact that PRSPs encompass many of the core neoliberal principles that were characteristic of SAPs, it seeks to explore the question: how did the World Bank's approach to PRSPs encompass the mainstream development discourse of the time ? Rather than focus on the lack of change between SAP and PRSP, as most academic work on the topic has done, this essay seeks to focus on the changes implemented during the change. This essay also does not seek to answer the question of how effective or “good” PRSPs were, but simply what development theories helped influence their approach. The shift from neoliberalism to the human development approach The World Bank's transition from SAPs to PRSPs occurred during a shift in the broader development discourse during the 1990s. Neoliberalism was losing support as new approaches to development grew, focusing on social concerns, poverty, inequality, gender and fundamental rights. These new approaches were partly due... to the middle of the paper... or have always had, or even achieved, very positive political results. There is a wide range of evidence showing that PRSPs have neither led to the empowerment of women nor done an ideal job of including the general population in the initial drafting of PRSPs. However, changes in the initial approach to concessional lending occurred within the World Bank as it moved from SAPs to PRSPs, allowing the traditional development discourse of the 1990s to influence its approach to development. Neoliberal strategies have not fallen by the wayside and are still found in many PRSPs, although not in place of such clear dominance as once occurred with SAPs. Instead, neoliberalism is now one of several development theories and discourses that help build PRSPs, sitting alongside the rights-based approach, feminist theory and a general emphasis on poverty reduction..