This dissertation examines the role of public participation in strengthening drought risk management across both developed and developing country contexts. Using a mixed-methods approach, it explores how participatory practices enhance drought preparedness, response, and policy effectiveness. A case study from Nebraska, USA, highlights the benefits of stakeholder engagement in raising awareness, clarifying responsibilities, and improving water resource management. A proposed evaluation framework provides drought managers with a tool to assess participatory efforts in state drought planning. In Zambia, research reveals significant gaps in drought governance, including limited public involvement, inadequate preparedness, and weak institutional coordination. The study concludes that while participation is context-dependent, its strategic integration enhances adaptive capacity, stakeholder ownership, and policy legitimacy in drought risk management worldwide.