The debate comes following a discussion request submitted by member Soha Said Abdel-Moneim and endorsed by more than 20 senators.

According to 2019's amended constitution, members of Egypt's Senate are authorized to supervise the government's performance in the form of submitting discussion requests on certain government policies and public opinion issues.

The three requests discussed by the Senate so far have covered climate change, overpopulation and national consciousness.

According to Soha Said Abdel-Moneim, an appointed senator who is a member of the Free Egyptians Party, the new discussion request regards the government's supervision of cash and in-kind donations granted to NGOs and civil society organisations.

"During the period from January 2021 to October 2021, money donated by individuals to NGOs and charity organisations has reached a total of EGP 4.997 billion, and this is to add to another EGP 2.222 billion granted by donor agencies," said Abdel-Moneim, asking "whether the government exerts any kind of control and supervision on these donations, making sure they are spent in a transparent way and for the purposes they are allocated."

Abdel-Moneim, said her discussion request comes after millions in Egypt saw tens of TV ads costing millions of pounds, urging people to donate money to charity organisations, hospitals and NGOs during the holy month of Ramadan.